The role of ursodeoxycholic acid on cholestatic hepatic fibrosis in infant rats.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to identify the impact of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on liver function and fibrosis markers in infant rats by establishing a cholestatic‑induced hepatic fibrosis model. α‑naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) was administrated by gavage to induce cholestatic hepatic fibrosis in infant rats. UCDA treatment was performed to assess its impact on biochemical indicators of liver function, four serum biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis indices in liver tissues and the pathology of liver tissues. Colorimetric assays and biochemical assays based on the initial rate method were performed to determine the levels of liver function markers in the serum, whereas the serum biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis were measured via radioimmunoassay. Sections of liver tissue were harvested and stained with hematoxylin‑eosin or picric acid‑Sirius red, and subjected to immunohistochemical staining to analyze liver pathology. All indicators of liver function, except for cholinesterase, were significantly higher in the ANIT model than in the control group (P<0.01). γ‑glutamyl transpeptidase and total bile acids of the UDCA treatment group were significantly lower than the ANIT model (P<0.05); whereas no significant differences were observed in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin and indirect bilirubin between the two groups. Serum laminin protein (LN) and type‑IV collagen (cIV) in the UDCA treatment group were significantly lower than in the ANIT model (P<0.01); whereas no significant differences were observed in hyaluronic acid and type‑III procollagen between the two groups. Liver LN and cIV in the UDCA treatment group were significantly lower than in the ANIT model (P<0.01). The degree of hepatic fibrosis in the UDCA treatment group was significantly lower than in the ANIT model (P<0.01). The results of the present study demonstrated that UDCA is able to reduce LN and cIV in serum and protect liver tissues against hepatic fibrosis.