The effects of ? carotene on experimental liver fibrosis in rats / 中华消化杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the effects of ? carotene on rat liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4). Methods ① After being treated with CCl 4 for 3 weeks to induce the experimental rat liver fibrosis, rats were treated with ? carotene 250 000 U/kg body weight by oral feeding twice a week. The normal and the CCl 4 control group were also set. ② The liver pathological and ultrastructual change were studied. The content of rat liver hydrooxylproline, the expression of ? 2 (Ⅰ) collagen RNA and transforming growth facter ? 1 (TGF ? 1) were studied at the same time. Results In the treatment group, the liver fibrosis scores were fewer significantly than those in the CCl 4 group ( P