Schisandrae Fructus oil-induced elevation in serum triglyceride and lipoprotein concentrations associated with physiologic hepatomegaly in mice

Objective:To investigate hypertriglyceridemia and hepatomegaly caused by Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus(FSS)and Schisandra chinensis Fructus(FSC)oils in mice.Methods:Mice were orally administered a single dose of SchisandraeFructusoils.Serumandhepatictriglyceride(TG),triglyceridetransferprotein(TTP),apolipoproteinB48(Apo B48),very-low-densitylipoprotein(VLDL),hepatocytegrowth factor(HGF),alanine aminotransfease(ALT)and liver index were measured at 6-120 h post-dosing.Results:FSS and FSC oil caused time and dose-dependent increases in serum and hepatic TG levels,with maximum increases in the liver(by 297%and 340%)at 12 h post-dosing and serum(244%and 439%)at 24-h post-dosing,respectively.Schisandrae Fructus oil treatments also elevated the levels of serum TTP by 51%and63%,Apo B48 by 152%and 425%,and VLDL by 67%and 38%in mice,respectively.FSS and FSC oil treatments also increased liver mass by 53%and 55%and HGF by 106%and 174%,but lowered serum ALT activity by 38%and 22%,respectively.Fenofibrate pre/co-treatment attenuated the FSS and FSC oil-induced elevation in serum TG levels by 41%and 49%at 48 h post-dosing,respectively,but increased hepatic TG contents(by 38%and 33%,respectively)at 12 h post-dosing.Conclusions:Our findings provide evidence to support the establishment of a novel mouse model of hypertriglyceridemia by oral administration of FSS oil(mainly increasing endogenous TG)and FSC oil(mainly elevating exogenous TG).