scholarly journals Glucobrassicin Metabolites Ameliorate the Development of Portal Hypertension and Cirrhosis in Bile Duct-Ligated Rats

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (17) ◽  
pp. 4161
Author(s):  
Ting Chang ◽  
Hsin-Ling Ho ◽  
Shao-Jung Hsu ◽  
Ching-Chih Chang ◽  
Ming-Hung Tsai ◽  
...  

Patients suffering from liver cirrhosis are often complicated with the formation of portosystemic collateral vessels, which is associated with the progression of a splanchnic hyperdynamic circulatory state. Alleviating pathological angiogenesis has thus been proposed to be a feasible treatment strategy. Indole-3-carbinol (C9H9NO, I3C) and 3,3′-diindolymethane (DIM), formed by the breakdown of glucosinolate glucobrassicin, are prevalent in cruciferous vegetables and have anti-angiogenesis properties. We aimed to evaluate their influences on portal hypertension, the severity of mesenteric angiogenesis, and portosystemic collaterals in cirrhosis. Sprague-Dawley rats with common bile duct ligation (CBDL)-induced liver cirrhosis or sham operation (surgical control) were randomly allocated to receive I3C (20 mg/kg/3 day), DIM (5 mg/kg/day) or vehicle for 28 days. The systemic and portal hemodynamics, severity of portosystemic shunting, mesenteric angiogenesis, and mesenteric proangiogenic factors protein expressions were evaluated. Compared to vehicle, both DIM and I3C significantly reduced portal pressure, ameliorated liver fibrosis, and down-regulated mesenteric protein expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor and phosphorylated Akt. DIM significantly down-regulated pErk, and I3C down-regulated NFκB, pIκBα protein expressions, and reduced portosystemic shunting degree. The cruciferous vegetable byproducts I3C and DIM not only exerted a portal hypotensive effect but also ameliorated abnormal angiogenesis and portosystemic collaterals in cirrhotic rats.

1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (1) ◽  
pp. G161-G166 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Sikuler ◽  
A. E. Buchs ◽  
A. Yaari ◽  
A. Keynan

The present study was conducted to characterize the hemodynamic alterations in common bile duct-ligated (CBDL) rats under ketamine anesthesia and in the awake restrained state. Hemodynamic studies using the radioactive microspheres technique were performed 17.6 +/- 0.6 (SE) days after bile duct ligation or sham operation. CBDL rats had lower mean arterial pressure, reduced systemic and renal resistance, and increased renal blood flow compared with sham-operated rats. This was found both in the conscious and anesthetized states. Anesthetized CBDL rats had higher portal pressure (13.2 +/- 0.5 vs. 9.2 +/- 0.4 mmHg; P less than 0.001) and lower splanchnic arteriolar resistance (15.4 +/- 1.3 vs 26.8 +/- 4.6 mmHg.ml-1.min.100 g body wt; P less than 0.05) than sham-operated rats. Portosystemic shunting was 52.3 +/- 11.7% in CBDL and negligible in sham-operated rats. The last three parameters could not be measured in conscious animals. Total peripheral resistance was lower in the conscious than in the anesthetized state, diverting a higher fraction of cardiac output at the expense of splanchnic organs and leading to a significant reduction of portal venous inflow in sham-operated but not in CBDL rats [3.36 +/- 0.47 vs. 5.38 +/- 0.65 (P less than 0.05) and 5.33 +/- 0.58 vs. 6.34 +/- 0.37 ml.min-1.100 g body wt-1 (P = NS), respectively]. These findings indicate that CBDL and normal rats respond differently to anesthesia and restraint. Because the restrained state is stressful and studies in anesthetized animals are technically simpler, provide additional information such as portal pressure and portosystemic shunting, and diminish animal suffering, we suggest that hemodynamic studies in rats, using the microsphere technique, should be preferably performed under ketamine anesthesia.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Chun Huang ◽  
Ming-Hung Tsai ◽  
Ching-Chih Chang ◽  
Chon Kit Pun ◽  
Yi-Hsiang Huang ◽  
...  

Liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension is the end of chronic liver injury with hepatic, splanchnic and portosystemic collateral systems dysregulation. Liver injury is accompanied by gut dysbiosis whereas dysbiosis induces liver fibrosis, splanchnic angiogenesis and dysregulated vascular tones vice versa, making portal hypertension aggravated. It has been proved that intestinal microbiota transplantation alleviates dysbiosis. Nevertheless, the influences of microbiota transplantation on cirrhosis related portal hypertension are not so clear. Liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension was induced by bile duct ligation in rats. Sham rats were surgical controls. Rats randomly received vehicle, fecal or gut (terminal ileum) material transplantation. The results showed that microbiota transplantation from feces or gut material significantly reduced portal pressure in cirrhotic rats (P = .010, .044). Hepatic resistance, vascular contractility, fibrosis and relevant protein expressions were not significantly different among cirrhotic rats. However, microbiota transplantation ameliorated splanchnic hyperdynamic flow and vasodilatation. Mesenteric angiogenesis, defined by whole mesenteric window vascular density, decreased in both transplantation groups and phosphorylated eNOS was downregulated. Portosystemic shunts determined by splenorenal shunt flow decreased in both transplantation groups (P = .037, .032). Shunting severity assessed by microsphere distribution method showed consistent results. Compared to sham rats, cirrhotic rats lacked Lachnospiraceae. Both microbiota transplants increased Bifidobacterium. In conclusion, microbiota transplantation in cirrhotic rats reduced portal pressure, alleviated splanchnic hyperdynamic circulation and portosystemic shunts. The main beneficial effects may be focused on portosystemic collaterals-related events, such as hepatic encephalopathy and gastroesophageal variceal hemorrhage. Further clinical investigations are mandatory.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shao-Jung Hsu ◽  
Jing-Yi Lee ◽  
Te-Yueh Lin ◽  
Yu-Hsin Hsieh ◽  
Hui-Chun Huang ◽  
...  

In liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension, the uneven distribution of vasoactive substances leads to increased intrahepatic vascular resistance and splanchnic vasodilatation. Angiogenesis also induces increased portal inflow and portosystemic collaterals. The collaterals may induce lethal complications such as gastroesophageal variceal hemorrhage, but the therapeutic effect of vasoconstrictors is still suboptimal due to poor collateral vasoresponsivenss. Curcumin has aroused much attention for its antifibrosis, vasoactive, and anti-angiogenesis actions. However, whether it affects the aforementioned aspects is unknown. Liver cirrhosis was induced by common bile duct ligation (CBDL) in Sprague–Dawley rats. Sham-operated rats were controls. CBDL and sham rats were randomly allocated to receive curcumin (600 mg/kg per day) or vehicle since the 15th day after BDL. On the 29th day, portal hypertension related parameters were surveyed. Portosystemic collateral in situ perfusion was performed to evaluate vascular activity. Chronic curcumin treatment decreased portal pressure (PP), cardiac index (CI) and increased systemic vascular resistance (SVR) in cirrhotic rats. In splanchnic system, curcumin decreased superior mesenteric artery (SMA) flow and increased SMA resistance. Mesenteric angiogenesis was attenuated by curcumin. Acute administration of curcumin significantly induced splanchnic vasoconstriction. The mesenteric protein expressions of p-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 (COX2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), p-VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), and p-Erk were down-regulated. In collateral system, curcumin decreased portosystemic shunting and induced vasoconstriction. In conclusion, chronic curcumin administration in cirrhotic rats ameliorated portal hypertension related hemodynamic derangements and portosystemic collaterals. Curcumin also attenuated splanchnic hyperdynamic circulation by inducing vasoconstriction through inhibition of eNOS activation and by decreasing mesenteric angiogenesis via VEGF pathway blockade.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7662
Author(s):  
Chon Kit Pun ◽  
Hui-Chun Huang ◽  
Ching-Chih Chang ◽  
Chiao-Lin Chuang ◽  
Chun-Hsien Yen ◽  
...  

Portal hypertension develops along with liver cirrhosis then induces the formation of portal-systemic collaterals and lethal complications. Extrahepatic angiogenesis plays an important role. Glycyrrhizin has been found to exhibit anti-angiogenic features, which leads to its extensive use. However, the relevant effects of glycyrrhizin on liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension have not been evaluated. This study thus aimed to investigate the impact of glycyrrhizin on portal hypertension-related derangements in cirrhotic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received bile duct ligation (BDL) to induce cirrhosis or sham operation as control. The rats were subdivided to receive glycyrrhizin (150 mg/kg/day, oral gavage) or vehicle beginning on the 15th day post operation, when BDL-induced liver fibrosis developed. The effects of glycyrrhizin were determined on the 28th day, the typical timing of BDL-induced cirrhosis. Glycyrrhizin significantly reduced portal pressure (p = 0.004). The splanchnic inflow as measured by superior mesenteric arterial flow decreased by 22% (p = 0.029). The portal-systemic collateral shunting degree reduced by 30% (p = 0.024). The mesenteric angiogenesis and phospho-VEGFR2 protein expression were also downregulated (p = 0.038 and 0.031, respectively). Glycyrrhizin did not significantly influence the liver biochemistry data. Although glycyrrhizin tended to reverse liver fibrosis, statistical significance was not reached (p = 0.069). Consistently, hepatic inflow from portal side, hepatic vascular resistance, and liver fibrosis-related protein expressions were not affected. Glycyrrhizin treatment at the stage of hepatic fibrosis still effectively attenuated portal hypertension and portosystemic collateral shunting. These beneficial effects were attributed to, at least in part, the suppression of mesenteric angiogenesis by VEGF signaling pathway downregulation.


2021 ◽  
pp. 096452842110392
Author(s):  
Yu-Sheng Chen ◽  
Chorng-Kai Wen ◽  
Geng-Hao Liu ◽  
Tzung-Yan Lee

Background: A hyperdynamic circulation and impaired vascular responsiveness to vasoconstrictors are observed in portal hypertension (PHT) rats. Inflammation is a major contributor to the hyperdynamic circulation state in murine models of PHT. Electroacupuncture (EA) may ameliorate the inflammatory response and limit arterial vasodilatation and portal pressure. This study investigated the possible mechanisms underlying putative hemodynamics effects of EA in normal and PHT rats. Methods: PHT was induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) surgery over 4 weeks in rats. Sham-operated and BDL rats were treated with low-frequency EA (2 Hz) at ST36 10 min three times weekly for one or two consecutive weeks (for a total of 3 or 7 treatments, respectively). Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitrite/nitrate (NOx) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) were analyzed, and hemodynamic variation and contractile responses to phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate and phenylephrine in aortic and superior mesenteric arterial rings were recorded. Inducible (i) and endothelial (3) nitric oxide synthase (NOS), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), and protein kinase C-α (PKC-α) levels were determined by Western blotting. Results: EA significantly reduced portal pressure and serum TNF-α, NOx and 6-keto-PGF1α levels compared to the untreated BDL group, enhanced maximum contractile responses in the aorta, up-regulated PKC-α, and down-regulated iNOS and COX-1 levels. In addition, EA decreased the aortic angiogenesis signaling cascade, reflected by down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) abundance and transforming growth factor β receptor (TGFβR)I/II expression, as assessed by immunostaining. Conclusion: EA attenuates TNF-α, NO and 6-keto-PGF1α overproduction, modulates the vascular levels of constitutive NOS and PKC-α, blunts the development of the angiogenesis cascade, and enhances vascular contractile force in PHT rats.


2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (22) ◽  
pp. 2391-2405
Author(s):  
I-Fang Hsin ◽  
Hui-Chun Huang ◽  
Ching-Chih Chang ◽  
Shao-Jung Hsu ◽  
Fa-Yauh Lee ◽  
...  

Liver cirrhosis is accompanied by increased intrahepatic resistance and angiogenesis-related portosystemic collaterals formation. Diabetic patients suffer from abnormal vasoresponsiveness and angiogenesis that can be ameliorated by glucose control. However, the relevant presentation is not clear in those with cirrhosis and diabetes, in whom insulin is the treatment of choice. Liver cirrhosis was induced in Sprague–Dawley rats with common bile duct ligation (BDL) and sham rats were used as controls. Streptozotocin 60 mg/kg (STZ, i.p., to induce diabetes) or vehicle was injected. The rats received BDL and STZ injections were injected with insulin or vehicle. On the 29th day after the procedure, the groups were surveyed for (1) systemic and portal hemodynamics; (2) mesenteric vascular density; (3) severity of portosystemic collaterals; (4) hepatic resistance using in situ liver perfusion; (5) histology survey of mesentery and liver; and (6) mesentery angiogenesis- and liver fibrogenesis-related protein expressions. Compared with the cirrhotic rats, the cirrhotic diabetic rats had lower body weight, cardiac output, superior mesenteric arterial (SMA) resistance and portal venous (PV) resistance, and higher SMA and PV flow, which were mostly reversed by insulin. The cirrhotic diabetic rats also had increased mesenteric vascular density, and enhanced pERK, pAkt, VEGF, VEGFR2 protein expressions that were reversed by insulin. Insulin decreased the degree of shunting in the diabetic cirrhotic rats. Hepatic perfusion pressure and severity of liver fibrosis were not significantly influenced by diabetes and insulin treatment in the cirrhotic rats. In conclusion, diabetes aggravated hemodynamic derangements, mesenteric angiogenesis and collaterals in the cirrhotic rats, which were mostly ameliorated by insulin. Further clinical investigations are warranted.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (3) ◽  
pp. G453-G460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukihiro Yokoyama ◽  
Hongzhi Xu ◽  
Nicole Kresge ◽  
Steve Keller ◽  
Amir H. Sarmadi ◽  
...  

Although the mechanisms of cirrhosis-induced portal hypertension have been studied extensively, the role of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) in the development of portal hypertension has never been explicitly explored. In the present study, we sought to determine the role of TXA2 in bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced portal hypertension in Sprague-Dawley rats. After 1 wk of BDL or sham operation, the liver was isolated and perfused with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer at a constant flow rate. After 30 min of nonrecirculating perfusion, the buffer was recirculated in a total volume of 100 ml. The perfusate was sampled for the enzyme immunoassay of thromboxane B2(TXB2), the stable metabolite of TXA2. Although recirculation of the buffer caused no significant change in sham-operated rats, it resulted in a marked increase in portal pressure in BDL rats. The increase in portal pressure was found concomitantly with a significant increase of TXB2 in the perfusate (sham vs. BDL after 30 min of recirculating perfusion: 1,420 ± 803 vs. 10,210 ± 2,950 pg/ml; P < 0.05). Perfusion with a buffer containing indomethacin or gadolinium chloride for inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) or Kupffer cells, respectively, substantially blocked the recirculation-induced increases in both portal pressure and TXB2 release in BDL group. Hepatic detection of COX gene expression by RT-PCR revealed that COX-2 but not COX-1 was upregulated following BDL, and this upregulation was confirmed at the protein level by Western blot analysis. In conclusion, these results clearly demonstrate that increased hepatic TXA2 release into the portal circulation contributes to the increased portal resistance in BDL-induced liver injury, suggesting a role of TXA2 in liver fibrosis-induced portal hypertension. Furthermore, the Kupffer cell is likely the source of increased TXA2, which is associated with upregulation of the COX-2 enzyme.


2014 ◽  
Vol 126 (9) ◽  
pp. 633-644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shao-Jung Hsu ◽  
Sun-Sang Wang ◽  
I-Fang Hsin ◽  
Fa-Yauh Lee ◽  
Hui-Chun Huang ◽  
...  

Green tea polyphenol ameliorates the severity of portosystemic shunting and mesenteric angiogenesis via the suppression of HIF-1α, Akt activation and VEGF. Green tea polyphenol appears to be an appropriate agent to control portal hypertension-related complications via anti-angiogenenic effects.


2001 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gracinda De Lourdes Jorge ◽  
Luiz Sergio Leonardi ◽  
Ilka de Fatima Santana Ferreira Boin ◽  
Orlando de Castro e Silva Jr ◽  
Cecilia Amelia Fazzio Escanhoela

The aim of this study was to describe a method for the induction of experimental secondary biliary fibrosis (SBF). Forty-seven Wistar rats were submitted to hepatic duct obstruction (OB group) for thirty days without ligature, section or cannulization causing interruption of biliary flow. This technique was carried out by simple traction of the bile duct passing it through the xiphoid appendix. Nine rats were submitted to a sham operation for bile duct stricture and seven rats comprised the control group. Blood samples were collected for the measurement of total bilirubin (TB), alkaline phosphatase (AP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Liver fragments were removed for morphological study. Thirty days after surgery TB, AP, ALT and AST levels were significantly increased in the hepatic duct ligation group compared to the sham operated group and the presence of SBF in the OB group was confirmed by morphological study of the liver. There was technical failure in 31.92% cases. The survival was 100% at fifteen days and 82.97% at the end of the experiment. We concluded that this simple surgical technique may be used to study the consequence of bile duct obstruction which could be a reversible process depending on the obstruction time. This technique can be carried out from cholestasis to fibrosis.


2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 2-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Angel Dias ◽  
Reginaldo Ceneviva ◽  
Jorge Elias Jr. ◽  
Sergio Zucoloto ◽  
Caroline Floreoto Baldo ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: To evaluate liver alterations caused by biliary obstruction and drainage. METHODS: Thirty-nine male Wistar rats were randomly distributed in 4 groups: BO (n=18) bile duct ligation for 20 days, with a periodic evaluation of liver histological alterations, Doppler echography portal flow and measurements of NO and malondialdehyde (MDA); BO/DB (n=13) bile duct occlusion for 20 days followed by biliary drainage by choledochoduodenal anastomosis, 5 days follow-up, same BO group parameters evaluations; group CED (n=4) sham operation and portal flow evaluation trough 20 days; CHB (n=4) sham operation, with hepatic biopsy on 25th day and followed-up trough 25 days, by the same parameters of group BO, with exception of portal flow. Direct bilirubin (DB) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) were evaluated in the group BO, BO/DB and CHB. RESULTS: The bile duct ligation led to an increase of DB and AP, development of liver histological alterations, reduction of portal flow and increase of plasmatic NO and of MDA levels. The bile duct clearing resulted in a reduction of DB, AP, NO, MDA histological alterations and increase of portal flow. CONCLUSION: The biliary occlusion resulted in cholestasis and portal flow reduction, besides the increase of plasmatic NO and of hepatic MDA levels, and histological liver alterations, with a tendency of normalization after the bile duct clearing.


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