Experimental Model of Hepatic Fibrosis Following Repeated Periportal Necrosis Induced by Allylalcohol

Jung, Sung Ae; Chung, Young Hwa; Park, Nung Hwa; Lee, Sang Soo; Kim, Jeong A; Yang, Soo Hyun; Song, Il Han; Lee, Yung Sang; Suh, Dong Jin

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purposes of this study were to establish a new experimental model of hepatic fibrosis in rats by repetitive periportal necrosis with allylalcohol and to evaluate the role of transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1 expression in this model.
METHODS
Of the 40 male adult Sprague- Dawley rats, 30 were infused with 0.62 mmol/kg of allylalcohol intraperitoneally twice a week. The remaining 10 were infused with normal saline as controls. The extent of fibrosis were evaluated semiquantitatively with numerical scoring system using Image analysis program. The expression of TGF beta1 mRNA in liver were semiquantitated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS
After 8 weeks, all except one showed moderate to severe extent of hepatic fibrosis. The extent of fibrosis correlated significantly with the amount of collagen as well as TGF beta1 mRNA. The collagen content and the expression of TGF beta1 mRNA were upregulated significantly in liver tissues which were treated for over 8 weeks and scored over 7 by numerical scoring system.
CONCLUSIONS
The new experimental model might be useful for the study of patients with chronic hepatitis who have periportal necrosis and fibrosis predominantly. Additionally, TGF beta1 may be related to the development of hepatic fibrosis in this model.