Effects of Taurine on Rats with CCl4-induced Portal Hypertension / 中国中医药信息杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of taurine on rats with CCl4-induced portal hypertension; To discuss its mechanism of action. Methods CCl4 compound method was used to prepare portal hypertension rat models. Experimental rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, positive medicine group and low-, medium- and high-dose taurine groups. Each medication group was given relevant medicine for gavage. After four-week treatment, biochemical analyzer was used to detect the contents of ALT, AST and TBIL;ELISA was used to detect the contents of CⅣ, PCⅢ, LN, HA and the level of HYP in serum;hemodynamic method was used to detect PVP, PVF, MAP and HR;nitrate reduction method was used to detect the contents of NO, chemical colorimetry was used to detect the activity of eNOS, hepatic tissue;the activity of SOD, GSH-Px and the content of MDA in hepatic tissue;HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of the hepatic tissue. Results Compared with the model group, the contents of ALT, AST and TBIL in serum in medium-and high-dose taurine groups decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01);the contents of CⅣ, PCⅢ, HA and HYP in serum in medium-and high-dose taurine groups decreased significantly, and LN in high-dose taurine group decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01);the PVP, PVF in medium- and high-dose taurine groups and the HR in high-dose taurine group decreased significantly (P<0.01), and the MAP in high-dose taurine group inecreased significantly (P<0.05); the content of NO in hepatic tissue of medium-and high-dose taurine groups increased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01);the activity of eNOS and the content of cGMP in high-dose taurine group increased significantly (P<0.05); the activity of SOD, GSH-Px in hepatic tissue of medium- and high-dose taurine groups increased significantly and the content of MDA decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01);the hepatic tissue histopath-ological changes of low-, medium-and high-dose taurine groups were significantly improved, especially the high-dose taurine group. Conclusion Taurine has inhibitory effects on rats with portal hypertension, which perhaps are related to its effects on enzyme activity inhibition and hepatic tissue protection, inhibiting the damage of oxidative stress, upregulating eNOS expression, enhancing the content of NO and improving liver function.