Study of heteroserum-induced rat liver fibrosis model and its mechanism

AIM:To investigate the morphological changes in the process of heteroserum induced rat liver fibrosis and the mechanism of fibrogenesis of this model.METHODS:A model of heteroserum-induced rat liver fibrosis was established by intraperitoneal injection of porcine serum. In addition to the observation of the morphological changes of this model, the infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells were measured quantitatively and the deposition of IgG and complement C(3) was detected by immunofluorescence.RESULTS:The rat liver fibrosis was induced successfully at the end of the 8th week after the injection of heteroserum.Besides the increase of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) during the process of liver fibrosis,proliferation and activation of primary mesenchyma cells (PMCs) were also found.In the early stage, the infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells was significantly increased and the deposition of IgG and complement C(3) was positive in the portal tracts and septa, while gradually reduced after the injection was stopped.CONCLUSION:This model is suitable for the research on liver fibrogenesis; the pathogenesis of this model may be related with the allergen-induced late phase reaction (LPR) caused by the injection of heteroserum, and the HSCs and the PMCs are important sources of ECM-producing cells.