【Animal modeling】-Effect of curcumin on the expression of hepatic 11β-HSD1 and insulin resistance in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

  Objective To observe the effect of curcumin on the expression of hepatic 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) and insulin resistance in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

  Methods Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, model group, low-dose curcumin group (C1 group), and high-dose curcumin group (C2 group). Rat NAFLD model was established by feeding with high-calorie diet for 8 weeks. The group (curcumin 200, 400 mg/(kg·d)) was treated for 8 weeks. After the experiment, the relevant indicators were tested.

  Results Curcumin treatment can reduce liver index, improve liver function, reduce blood lipid and liver lipid deposition, alleviate the pathological changes of liver tissue, and significantly improve insulin resistance state, and the above treatment effects are dose-dependent. The expression of 11β-HSD1 mRNA and protein in liver tissue showed that the C1 group (0. 157 ± 0. 013, 0. 264 ± 0. 062) and the C2 group (0. 091 ± 0. 009, 0. 191 ± 0. 021) Compared with the model group ( 0. 264 ± 0. 015, 0. 477 ± 0. 074), it was significantly lower (P < 0. 05, P < 0. 01), and the C2 group was more obvious.

  Conclusion Curcumin has a good therapeutic effect on NAFLD induced by high-calorie diet in rats, which may be related to inhibiting the expression of 11β-HSD1 and improving insulin resistance.