Objective: To investigate the effect of telmisartan on the expression of PPARs and adiponectin receptor 2 in liver tissue of rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Methods: Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC, n=15), high-fat control group (FC, n=15), and high-fat + telmisartan intervention group (FT, n=10). . The NC group was fed with normal diet, and the FC and FT groups were fed with high-fat diet. At the end of the 12th week, 5 rats in the NC group and the FC group were randomly selected for the n-glucose hyperinsulinemia intercalation experiment and liver tissue HE staining. After confirming that the modeling was successful, the FT group was given 5 mg/(kg·d) telmisartan by gavage. , NC and FC groups were gavaged with equal volume of normal saline for 4 weeks. At 16 weeks, the steady-state glucose infusion rate was used to measure insulin sensitivity, and the levels of serum transaminases, blood lipids and fasting blood glucose were measured; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to measure peroxidase in liver tissue. Expression of proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), adiponectin receptor 2 (AdipoR2) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R).
Results: Compared with the NC group, the mRNA expressions of PPARα, PPARγ, and AdipoR2 in the liver tissue of the FC group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the AT1R mRNA expression was increased compared with the NC group (P<0.01). Compared with the FC group, the levels were higher (P<0.01); the serum transaminase, blood lipid and fasting blood glucose levels in the FT group were improved compared with the FC group.
Conclusion: Telmisartan can reduce the body weight and liver index of NASH rats, regulate glucose and lipid metabolism and improve insulin resistance, and has a protective effect on the liver of NASH rats.