Hemodynamic effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on cirrhotic rats

Abstract

Salvia miltiorrhiza (Sm) administration has been shown to reduce hepatic fibrosis in rats. We investigated the hemodynamic effects of Sm on bile duct ligated (BDL) rats. Hemodynamic, histological, and vascular contractile studies were conducted in rats 4 weeks after bile duct ligation. An aqueous extract of Sm (0.2 g twice per day) or vehicle was administered for 4 weeks to BDL rats. Sm treatment in BDL rats significantly reduced histological grades of fibrosis and ameliorated the portal hypertensive state (including portal venous pressure, superior mesenteric artery blood flow, cardiac index, and total peripheral resistance) as compared with vehicle treatment. Moreover, Sm treatment enhanced the vascular sensitivity of mesenteric arteries to phenylephrine in BDL rats. Sm treatment had no effect on plasma biochemical profiles of either BDL or normal rats. Our results suggest that 4-week Sm treatment ameliorates the portal hypertensive state in BDL rats.

Oxidative-Stress-Related Changes in the Livers of Bile-Duct-Ligated Rats

“…0.01) and AST (908 B 68 vs. 187 B 13 U/l, p ! 0.01) compared with sham-operated rats, indicating severe hepatic injury [18]. Both glutathione (3.5 B 0.3 vs. 11.7 B 1.3 Ìmol/ml, p !…”

“…Thus both TGF-ß1 and oxidative stress may mutually reinforce each other in stellate cell activation and hepatic fibrogenesis [8]. Several experimental studies also demonstrated that administration of agents capable of inhibiting lipid peroxidation or scavenging ROS can reduce hepatic fibrosis in treated animals [18,38,43,44,55].…”

“…Variable degrees of ascites were observed in BDL rats at 4 weeks [18,24]. The body weights of BDL and sham-operated rats were similar at both 2 weeks (331 B 13 vs. 374 B 9 g) and 4 weeks (400 B 13 vs. 423 B 13 g) after surgery.…”

“…Common bile duct ligation was performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g) to induce hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension [24] as previously described [18]. A double ligation of the bile duct was performed in rats under anesthesia by a proximal ligature around the bile duct in the hilus of the liver and by a distal ligature close to its entry into the duodenum.…”

“…Aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and creatinine were measured by standard laboratory methods on an automatic analyzer (Hitachi 736-60, Tokyo, Japan), as described previously [18].…”