Angelica sinensis polysaccharides prevents rat from hepatic encephalopathy / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate to the role of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides (ASP) against hepatic encephalopathy and explore the probable mechanism. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were established into carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver cirrhosis,then treated with distilled water (negative control),lactulose (positive control),ASP solution (10,20 and 40 g/L respectively,intragastrically at dose of 10 ml.kg-1.d-1) for 14 days. On 15th day,all the survival rats were intraperitoneally injected with endotoxin (3 mg/kg) once,then in the following 12 h,the rats that fall into coma were counted and the time period of coma was recorded. The blood plasma concentrations of ammonia,serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) were determined. The apoptotic cerebral cells were dyed in situ by TUNEL. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in astrocytes was determined by immunohistochemical method. Then we counted the apoptotic cerebral cells and GFAP positive cells under light microscope. Results The survival rats in distilled water group were highest in the concentrations of ammonia,GPT and GOT,the amount of apoptotic cerebral cells,and coma rate than the rats in other groups. The rats in 40 g/L ASP group had the higher ammonia level,GOT concentration,coma rate than those in lactulose group. The rats in 3 ASP groups all had less apoptotic cerebral cells than those in lactulose group. As to GFAP,distilled water group had the lowest immunological activity,and the GFAP immunological positive cells of 3 ASP groups were all more than those in lactulose group. Conclusion ASP,even more effective than lactulose,can protect rat brain function and delay the occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy,whose effects may be related to the decrease of blood ammonia,the amelioration of liver function as well as the protection of astrocyte function and neuronic activity.