[Animal modeling] - Effect of prostacyclin E1 on hepatic fibrosis in rabbits after hepatic artery iodized oil embolization

  Objective To investigate the effect of prostacyclin E1 on the expression of Smad2 and Smad4 mRNA in rabbits with hepatic fibrosis after hepatic artery iodized oil embolization.

  Methods Thirty six adult rabbits were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group and administration group. After one week of feeding, all rabbits in the three groups were intubated under anesthesia, and the hepatic artery iodized oil embolization was simulated. Then 1mL of normal saline was injected through the right hepatic artery in the sham operation group, 1mL of iodized oil+0.2 mL of PGEl was injected through the right hepatic artery in the treatment group, and 1mL of iodized oil was injected through the right hepatic artery in the model group. Serological indexes of rabbits in each group were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 2, 4, 6 and 8 days after operation, rabbits were dissected and their liver tissues were taken for pathological examination 8 days after operation, and the levels of Smad2 and Smad4 mRNA in the liver tissues of rabbits in each group were detected by RT-PCR.

  Results There was no significant change in the serological parameters of rabbits in the sham operation group 2, 4, 6 and 8 days after operation. Compared with the sham operation group, the serum indexes of the drug administration group and the model group at each time point increased significantly with time (P<0.05); The serum indexes of the drug administration group at each time point were significantly lower than those of the model group (P<0.05). In the sham operation group, there was no obvious liver fibrosis 8 days after operation; The pathological specimens of rabbits in the drug group and the model group had liver fibrosis to varying degrees, and the liver fibrosis in the drug group was more obvious than that in the model group (P<0.05). The expression levels of Smad2 and Smad4 mRNA in immune liver tissues of the drug administration group and model group were significantly higher than those of the sham operation group (P<0.05), and the expression levels of Smad2 and Smad4 mRNA in immune liver tissues of the drug administration group were significantly lower than those of the model group (P<0.05).

  Conclusion PGE1 can improve the liver fibrosis after hepatic artery iodized oil embolization, and reduce the expression of Smad2 and Smad4 mRNA in liver tissue, which has a positive effect on the protection of liver injury.