Effects of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate on liver function and liver regeneration in cirrhotic rats after partial hepatectomy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate on liver regeneration and hepatic function following partial hepatectomy in thioacetamide induced cirrhotic rats.Methods Forty-five cirrhotic Wistar rats undergoing 2/3 hepatectomy were randomly assigned to control group ( Group A), Group B and Group C starting the day of hepatectomy, rats in Group B were injected 60mg per kg body-weight magnesium isoglycyrrhizina daily intraperitoneally until the day of sacrifice. Rats in Group A recevied same dose of sodium chloride. In Group C, magnesium isoglycyrrhizina was administered daily 3 days before hepatectomy until the rats were sacrificed. Liver function, serum HGF, serum PLA2,BrdU labelling index and percentage of intial liver weight on days 1, 2 and 7 post hepatectomy were assessed. Results Rats in Group A had significantly lower BrdU labelling index and serum HGF level than Group C ( t = 2. 831, P ＜ 0.05; t = 3.427, P ＜ 0.05 ) and a markedly higher level of serum PLA2 than the other groups on day 1 posthepatectomy ( Group B t = 2. 794, P ＜ 0.05; Group C t = 2. 902, P ＜ 0.05 ).Rats in Group A had a lower BrdU labelling index and a more increased level of serum PLA2 than Group B and Group C on day 2 posthepatectomy ( BrdU labelling index: Group B t = 2. 736, P ＜ 0.05; Group C t =3.083, P＜0.05; PLA2: Group B t =2.794, P＜0.05; Group C t =2.902, P＜0.05), but had no significant difference in HGF level with the other two groups. The three groups were similar in ALT, AST,TP and intial liver weight on days 1,2 after operation. On the 7th day posthepatectomy, rats in Group A had a higher level of AST ( Group B t = 4. 508, P ＜ 0.05; Group C t = 2. 967, P ＜ 0.05 ) and a lower level of TP ( Group B t = 2. 838, P ＜ 0.05; Group C t = 2. 743, P ＜ 0.05 ), lower liver weight than the other two groups ( Group B t = 3.316, P ＜ 0.05; Group C t = 4. 093, P ＜ 0.05) but there was no difference between the three groups in BrdU labelling index, HGF and PLA2 level. Rats in Group C had significantly higher BrdU labelling index and serum HGF level than the rats in Group B on day 1 after hepatectomy( t = 2. 831, P ＜0.05; t = 2. 836, P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusions Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate inhibits aminopherase release and enhancing liver regeneration in cirrhotic rats after partial hepatectomy. Key words: Hepatectomy; Liver regeneration; Liver function; Disease models, animal; Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate