Effect of modified Yinchenhao decoction on cholestatic liver fibrosis in rats based on ultrasound shear wave elastography
LI Yang,LI Cai-xia,ZHANG Shu-kun
Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) in dynamically monitoring the improvement of biliary liver fibrosis stiffness by modified Yinchenhao decoction (MYCHD). Methods Twenty-four 7-8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions were selected to establish a bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced biliary liver fibrosis model. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group (Sham group), model group (BDL group), model + low-dose MYCHD group (MYCHD-L group), and model + high-dose MYCHD group (MYCHD-H group). The Sham group underwent laparotomy with bile duct exposure but no ligation, followed by abdominal closure. The other groups underwent common bile duct ligation using 4-0 surgical suture. Seven days post-modeling, the MYCHD-L and MYCHD-H groups received MYCHD (7.74 g/kg and 15.48 g/kg, respectively) via gavage once daily for 7 days. The Sham and BDL groups received an equivalent volume of pure water. After gavage, liver stiffness measurements (LSM) were obtained using SWE. All rats were euthanized post-ultrasound. Liver histopathological changes were observed using Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) and Sirius red staining. Serum liver function markers—alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)—were analyzed using an automated biochemical analyzer. Serum levels of liver fibrosis markers—hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), type III procollagen (PC-Ⅲ), and type IV collagen (Col-Ⅳ)—were detected via ELISA. Correlations between LSM and serum markers (ALP, GGT) and liver fibrosis markers were analyzed. Results Compared to the Sham group, rats in the Model group (BDL) exhibited significantly increased hepatocyte injury, inflammatory cell infiltration, and collagen deposition area in liver tissue (P <0.05), alongside significantly elevated serum levels of ALP, GGT, HA, LN, PC-Ⅲ, and Col-Ⅳ (P <0.05). Furthermore, liver stiffness values (LSM) measured by SWE were significantly higher in the Model group (P <0.05). Compared to the BDL group, rats in both MYCHD dose groups showed significantly reduced hepatocyte injury, inflammatory cell infiltration, and collagen deposition area (P <0.05), as well as significantly decreased serum levels of ALP, GGT, HA, LN, PC-Ⅲ, and Col-Ⅳ(P <0.05). SWE measurements also revealed significantly lower LSM values in the MYCHD groups (P <0.05). Further analysis revealed that LSM exhibited a strong positive correlation with ALP, GGT, liver histopathological scores, Sirius red staining-positive area, and serum levels of HA and Col-Ⅳ (r=0.802，0.765,0.77,0.83,0.751,0.771, respectively; all P < 0.01), and a moderate positive correlation with LN and PC-Ⅲ (r= 0.485,0.60, P =0.01,0.02, respectively). Conclusion MYCHD significantly improves BDL-induced liver fibrosis. LSM is valuable for assessing the anti-fibrotic efficacy and therapeutic outcomes of MYCHD. This study provides new evidence and a visualized evaluation method for traditional Chinese medicine in anti-liver fibrosis treatment.
