Optimization of Tetrandrine Treatment in Rat Hepatic Fibrosis Model

Objective To optimize the therapeutic dosage of tetrandrine (Tet) in rat hepatic fibrosis model. Methods 50 Wistar ratswere divided into 5 groups at random including normal control, model control, Tet-treated model groups of 10 mg.kg-1.d-1, 5 mg.kg-1.d-1and 2.5 mg.kg-1.d-1(n=10 in each group). All rats, except for the normal controls, were injected with axenic porcine serum(0.5ml each time, twice a week) intraperitoneally for8 weeks to establish hepatic fibrosis. After the 8th week, rats of Tet-treated modelgroups were given by gavage once a day with different doses of Tet for another8 weeks. Then the liver function, serum levels of hyaluron-ic acid (HA), laminin (LM), and procollagen type III (PCIII) were tested. Collagen type I and III, pathological changes in liver tissuewere also assessed. Results Most indices of liver function including alanine minotransferase ( ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), albumin (ALB), albumin /globulin ratio (A/G) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) improved significantly in Tet-treated groupswith the exception ofγ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) and total bilirubin (TBIL). Secondly, markedly lowered levels of HA, LMandcollagen type I, III were also detected by radioimmunology and immunohistochemistry in the 5 mg.kg-1.d-1Tet-treated model group.Moreover, pathological findings confirmed the statistically significant improvement in hepatofibrotic degree resulted from the treatment of5 mg.kg-1.d-1rather than other doses of Tet. Conclusion For experimental Wistar rats, Tet exhibited an anti-hepatofibrotic action indoses within the range of 2.5 mg.kg-1.d-1to 10 mg.kg-1.d-1, and 5 mg.kg-1.d-1may be the optimum one among all doses.

Objective To optimize the therapeutic dosage of tetrandrine （Tet） in rat hepatic fibrosis model. Methods 50 Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups at random including normal control, model control, Tet-treated model groups of 10 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 , 5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 and 2.5mg·kg^-1·d^-1 （n = 10 in each group）. All rats, except for the normal controls, were injected with axenic porcine serum （0.5ml each time, twice a week） intraperitoneally for 8 weeks to establish hepatic fibrosis. After the 8th week, rats of Tet-treated model groups were given by gavage once a day with different doses of Tet for another 8 weeks.