【Animal modeling】-Protective effect of Dahuang Mudan decoction on liver injury in rats with acute pancreatitis

  Objective To investigate the protective effect of Dahuang Mudan Decoction on liver injury in rats with acute pancreatitis.

  Methods Ninety-six SPF Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, high-dose, medium-dose and low-dose Dahuang Mudan decoction groups (14, 7, 3.5 g/(kg·d)), and octreotide group (10 μg/(kg) d)), 16 animals in each group, were retrogradely injected with 5% sodium taurocholate solution to replicate the pancreatobiliary duct model. The animals were administered 1 hour before and 12 and 24 hours after modeling, respectively, and samples were collected. The general signs of the rats were observed, and the contents of serum amylase (AMS), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholinesterase (ChE), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined biochemically, and the pancreas and liver were observed by HE staining. Histopathological changes, ELISA method was used to detect the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in rat liver tissue; Western Blot method was used to detect the expression levels of key proteins of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway in rat liver tissue.

  Results (1) Compared with the blank group, the general survival status of the rats in the model group was relatively poor, the contents of AMS, ALT, AST and CRP were increased, and the content of ChE was decreased; under the HE staining microscope, the pancreatic tissue structure was incomplete, necrosis, congestion and inflammation. Serious infiltration, hepatocyte arrangement disorder, necrosis, steatosis, and inflammatory infiltration were obvious; the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in liver tissue homogenate were significantly increased; PI3K, p-Akt, The expression levels of p-NF-κB p65 and Bax protein were increased, and the expression level of Bcl-2 protein was decreased (P<0.05). (2) Compared with the model group, the survival status of the rats in each treatment group was improved; the degree of edema, congestion and necrosis of the pancreatic tissue was significantly improved, and the disordered arrangement, necrosis, fatty degeneration, and inflammatory infiltration of the liver cells were significantly alleviated; AMS, The contents of ALT, AST and CRP decreased to varying degrees, while the content of ChE increased; the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in liver tissue homogenate were decreased; the contents of PI3K, p-Akt, p-NF-κB p65 in liver tissue , Bax protein expression level decreased, Bcl-2 protein expression level increased (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion Dahuang Mudan Decoction can effectively improve the general state, biochemical indicators and pathological changes of pancreas and liver tissue in acute pancreatitis (AP) model rats, and its mechanism of action may be through regulating PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby reducing the risk of acute pancreatitis (AP). liver damage.