Protective effect of qihuo decoction on the liver of rats with sleep deprivation in the humid and hot environment / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the protective effect of Qihuo decoction (QHD) on the livers of sleep-deprived rats housed in the humid and hot environment, and to characterize ultrastructural changes of livers in these rats. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomized into 4 groups (10 each group) blank control group (BC group), humid and hot control group (HC group), humid and hot with sleep deprivation group (HS group), and humid and hot with sleep-deprived treated with QHD group (HSQ group). Rats in BC group were housed in the normal temperature and humidity chamber; while rats in HC group, HS group, and HSQ group were housed in the simulated hot and humid chamber. Rats in BC group, HC group, and HS group were given distilled water to gavage for 15 days, and rats in HSQ group were given QHD to gavage for 15 days. Then rats in HS group and HSQ group were sleep deprived for 72 hours. The serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected. The liver tissues contents of hepatic glycogen, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were detected. The expression of β-galactosidase (β-gal) in each group was also detected. Lastly, the rat hepatocytes ultrastructure was observed by a transmission electron microscope. Results In BC group, HC group, HS group, and HSQ group, the serum AST levels were (107.7±8.4)U/L, (126.9±10.4)U/L, (176.9±13.1)U/L, and (140.6±9.6)U/L; the ALT levels were (37.9±3.1)U/L, (45.5±6.2)U/L, (86.5±10.4)U/L, and (64.9±8.7)U/L. Statistical analysis among groups were significantly different (P<0.01). Compared with BC group, the levels of AST and ALT increased significantly in the rest 3 groups (P<0.01). The serum concentrations of AST and ALT in HSQ group were significantly lower than those in HS group (P<0.01). The hepatic glycogen levels were (19.7±1.5)nmol/mg prot, (17.9±0.8) nmol/mg prot, (11.3±0.5)nmol/mg prot, (14.6±0.7)nmol/ mg prot successively in the four groups. The MDA levels were (10.3±1.1)nmol/mg prot, (26.6±1.3)nmol/mg prot, (41.4±2.4) nmol/mg prot, (33.7±1.7)nmol/mg prot successively in the four groups. The GSH levels were (77.6±5.2)U/mg prot, (70.6±5.1) U/mg prot, (45.8±3.8)U/mg prot, (60.7±3.3)U/mg prot successively in the four groups. Comparisons among groups were significantly different (P<0.01). Compared with BC group, the data of HC group, HS group and HSQ group about the contents of hepatic glycogen and GSH decreased significantly (P<0.05), the contents of MDA increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with HS group, the data of HSQ group about the contents of hepatic glycogen and GSH increased significantly (P<0.01), the contents of MDA decreased significantly (P<0.01). The counts of β-gal positive cells were (0.67±0.52), (6.23±0.42), (13.5±0.48) and (10.16±0.36) successively in rats liver tissues of the four groups. Comparison among groups was significantly different (P<0.01). Compared with the BC group, the data of the HC group, HS group, and HSQ group about the number of β-gal positive cells increased significantly (P<0.01). The number of β-gal positive cells in HSQ group was lower than that in HS group (P<0.01). Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that the hepatocytes of HC group, HS group and HSQ group were damaged to varying degrees, and the injury of HS group was the most obvious, and the injury of HSQ group was reduced. Conclusion QHD Can obviously alleviate the degree of liver injury that was induced by high temperature and high humidity and sleep deprivation, and the mechanism of which might be related to increasing hepatic glycogen reserve, balancing oxidative stress and slowing process of hepatic cell aging.