Basic Research
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 14, 2007; 13(14): 2061-2065
Published online Apr 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i14.2061
Iron deposition and fat accumulation in dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis in rat
Jin-Yang He, Wen-Hua Ge, Yuan Chen
Jin-Yang He, Tropical Medicine Institute of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, Guangdong Province, China
Wen-Hua Ge, Department of Warm Diseases of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, Guangdong Province, China
Yuan Chen, Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Jin-Yang He, Tropical Medicine Institute of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, Guangdong Province, China. sunny12345678_89@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-20-31774402 Fax: +86-20-86575767
Received: December 15, 2006
Revised: February 3, 2007
Accepted: February 13, 2007
Published online: April 14, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To investigate if iron deposition and fat accumulation in the liver play a pathogenetic role in dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis in rat.

METHODS: Thirty rats were treated with DMN at does consecutive days of 10 μL/kg daily, i.p., for 3 consecutive day each week for 4 wk. Rats (n = 30) were sacrificed on the first day (model group A) and 21st d (model group B) after cessation of DMN injection. The control group (n = 10) received an equivalent amount of saline. Liver tissues were stained with hematoxylin & eosin (HE) and Masson and Prussian blue assay and oberserved under electron microscopy. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and liver tissue hydroxyproline (Hyp) content were tested.

RESULTS: The liver fibrosis did not automatically reverse, which was similar to previous reports, the perilobular deposition of iron accompanied with collagen showed marked characteristics at both the first and 21st d after cessation of DMN injection. However, fat accumulation in hepatocytes occurred only at the 21st d after cessation of DMN injection.

CONCLUSION: Iron deposition and fat accumulation may play important roles in pathological changes in DMN-induced rat liver fibrosis. The detailed mechanisms of these characteristics need further research.

Keywords: Liver fibrosis; Dimethylnitrosamine; Iron; Fat