Relationship between the activation of hepatic stellate cell and the early stage of liver fibrosis in experimental diabetic tree shrews / 基础医学与临床

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the relationship between the activation of hepatic stellate cell(HSC) and the early stage of liver fibrosis in experimental diabetic tree shrews.Methods: Tree shrews were divided randomly into normal control group and streptozocin(STZ)-treated group.STZ-treated animals were then divided into diabetic group and STZ control group.ALT,AST,Type Ⅳ collagen(Ⅳ-C),Laminin(LN) and Hyaluronic acid(HA) were detected respectively before and after modelling.Liver biopsy was performed at the end of the experiment(8th week).All of the liver specimens were observed in light microscope and transmission electron microscope.?-smooth muscle actin(?-SMA) was detected by immunohistochemistry and computer image analysis system.Results: Early fibrosis of the liver in diabetic tree shrews can be found by both light and electron microscope.There were some ?-SMA positive HSCs,namely,activated HSCs could be observed in the liver of diabetic group but not in other two groups.The expression of ?-SMA increased significantly in the liver of diabetic group as compared with that of other two groups.In addition,the level of expression of ?-SMA was positively correlated with the collagen area density in diabetic group.Conclusion HSC may play an important role in the development and aggravation of liver fibrosis in diabetic tree shrews.