The effect of lactulose on the establishment of a rat model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis / 中华消化杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the relationship between the change of intestinal environment and pathogenesis of non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods Forty two SD rats were divided into 3 groups randomly model group( n =24), treatment group( n =12) and normal group( n =6). The rats of model group and treatment group were given fat rich diet, and those of normal group were given normal diet. Furthermore, the rats of treatment group were given lactulose after 8 weeks of fat rich diet feeding. Twelve rats of model group were sacrificed at 8 weeks of study. At 16 weeks, the rats of treatment group, normal group, and the rest of model group were sacrificed. The serum levels of aminotransferase were measured and the pathology of livers were observed by HE stain. Results The rats' livers presented the pathology of steatohepatitis with higher serum levels of ALT and AST in the 16 weeks model group. The serum levels of ALT and AST of treatment group decreased significantly and were close to normal group. The hepatic inflammation scores also decreased markedly (5.83?2.02 vs. 3.63?0.64), but were still higher (3.63?0.64 vs. 1.98 ?0.90) than those of 8 weeks model group. And the degree of hepatocyte steatosis did not change in the treatment group. Conclusions Lactulose could ameliorate the hepatic inflammation of rats with steatohepatitis induced by fat rich diet, but could not prevent the development of steatohepatitis. It suggested the change of intestinal environment, such as intestinal bacteria overgrowth, was one of important factors in the pathogenesis of NASH.