RESUMO
Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on the histopathological changes and serum indexes of rats' liver, and to investigate the mechanism of electroacupuncture in treating hepatic fibrosis of rats. Methods: The rat model of hepatic fibrosis was induced with carbon tetrachloride. Then, the rats were divided into electroacupuncture group, medicine group, and model group. The collagen of liver, and serum hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), procollagen (PⅢNP), and collagen Ⅳ (C-Ⅳ) were detected with morphologic methods and radioimmunoassay. Results: Compared with normal rats, the collagen was hyperplasia in the liver tissue, and the contents of the serum HA, LN, and PⅢ NP were higher in the model group. The collagen area of liver tissue, and the contents of the serum HA, and LN were lower in rats treated with electroacupuncture than model rats. The contents of serum of PⅢ NP, and C-Ⅳ changed little. Conclusion: Electroacupuncture had some effects of prevention and treatment, and the mechanism may relate to the effects of electroacupuncture in protecting liver cells, inhibiting synthesis of extracellular matrix, and promoting the breakup of collagen.