Effect of berberine on fatty liver ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats: the relationship with endoplasmic reticulum stress in liver tissues / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of berberine on fatty liver ischemia-repeffusion (I/R) injury and the relationship with endoplasmic reticulum stress in liver tissues.Methods Thirty-two male Wistar rats,aged 4 weeks,weighing 100-150 g,were divided into 4 groups (n=8 each) using a random number table method:control group (group C),fatty liver group (group FL),I/R group and berberine group (group BBR).Rats were fed a normal fat diet for 12 weeks,normal saline 3.5 ml was given intragastrically for 4 weeks starting from 9th week,and rats only underwent simple laparotomy in group C.Rats were fed a high-fat diet (45％ energy originating from fat) for 12 weeks,and the other treatments were similar to those previously described in group C.Rats were fed a high-fat diet (45％ energy originating from fat) for 12 weeks,normal saline 3.5 ml was given intragastrically for 4 weeks starting from 9th week,and then the model of liver I/R injury was established in group I/R.Rats were fed a high-fat diet (45％ energy originating from fat) for 12 weeks,berberine solution (300 mg/kg) 3.5 ml was given intragastrically for 4 weeks starting from 9th week,and then the model of liver I/R injury was established in group BBR.Hepatic ischemia was induced by clamping the portal vein,hepatic artery,right gastric vein,and supra-and inferior-hepatic vena cava to perform cold perfusion with 4 ℃ lactated Ringer's solution lasting for 30 min,followed by reperfusion.The serum triglyceride (TG) concentrations were determined after 4,8 and 12 weeks of diet.Blood samples were collected at 6 h of reperfusion for measurement of serum aspartate transminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) concentrations.Livers were removed after blood sampling at 6 h of reperfusion and liver tissues were obtained and stained with oil red O and haematoxylin and eosin for examination of pathological changes and for determination of the expression of Bip,CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP),protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) and phosphorylated PERK (p-PERK) (by Western blot).p-PERK/PERK ratio was calculated.Results Compared with group C,the serum TG,ALT and AST concentrations were significantly increased,the expression of Bip and CHOP was up-regulated,p-PERK/PERK ratio was increased (P＜0.05),lipid deposition was increased,and liver steatosis was found in group FL.Compared with group FL,the serum AST and ALT concentrations were significantly increased,the expression of Bip and CHOP was up-regulated,pPERK/PERK ratio was increased (P＜0.05),and the pathological changes of liver tissues were accentuated in group I/R.Compared with group I/R,the serum TG,ALT and AST concentrations were significantly decreased,the expression of Bip and CHOP was down-regulated,p-PERK/PERK ratio was decreased (P＜ 0.05),lipid deposition was reduced,and the pathological changes of liver tissues were significantly attenuated in group BBR.Conclusion Berberine can ameliorate fatty liver I/R injury,and the mechanism may be related to inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress in liver tissues of rats.