Published online Apr 15, 2002. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v8.i2.333
Revised: August 26, 2001
Accepted: August 28, 2001
Published online: April 15, 2002
AIM: To observe the regulatory effect of Chinese herbal medicine on peritoneal lymphatic stomata and its significance in treating ascites in liver fibrosis model mice.
METHODS: Two Chinese herbal composite prescriptions were used separately to treat the carbon tetrachloride-induced mouse model of liver fibrosis. The histo-pathologic changes of the liver sections (HE and VG stainings) were observed. The peritoneal lymphatic stomata was detected by scanning electron microscopy and computer image processing. The changes of urinary volume and sodium ion concentration were measured.
RESULTS: In the model group, lots of fibrous tissue formed in liver and extended into the hepatic lobules to separate them incompletely. In the treated and prevention groups, the histo-pathologic changes of liver was rather milder, only showed much less fibrous tissue proliferation in the hepatic lobules. The peritoneal lymphatic stomata enlarged with increased density in the experimental groups (diameter: PA, 3.07 ± 0.69 µm; PB, 2.82 ± 0.37 µm; TA, 3.25 ± 0.82 µm and TB, 2.82 ± 0.56 µm; density: PA, 7.11 ± 1.90 stomata·1000 µm-2; PB, 8.76 ± 1.45 stomata·1000 µm-1; TA, 6.55 ± 1.44 stomata·1000 µm-2 and TB, 8.76 ± 1.79 stomata·1000 µm-2), as compared with the model group (diameter: 2.00 ± 0.52 µm; density: 4.45 ± 1.05 stomata·1000 µm-2). After treatment, the urinary volume and sodium ion excretion increased in the experimental groups (PA, 231.28 ± 41.09 mmol·L-1; PB, 171.69 ± 27.48 mmol·L-1 and TA, 231.44 ± 34.12 mmol·L-1), which were significantly different with those in the model group (129.33 ± 36.75 mmol·L-1).
CONCLUSION: Chinese herbal medicine has marked effects in alleviating liver fibrosis, regulating peritoneal lymphatic stomata, improving the drainage of ascites from peritoneal cavity and causing increase of urinary volume and sodium ion excretion to reduce the water and sodium retention, and thus have favorable therapeutic effect in treating ascites.