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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
The Dimethylnitrosamine Induced Liver Fibrosis Model in the Rat
Published on: June 17, 2016
[Effects of Cordyceps sinensis on dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis in rats]
Feng-Hua Li1, Ping Liu, Wei-Guo Xiong
1Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
Objective:
To study the effects of Cordyceps sinensis on dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis in rats.
Methods:
SD rats were divided into normal control group, untreated group and Cordyceps sinensis-treated group. The rats in each group were fed with corresponding drug for 4 weeks. The rat's liver collagen deposition was observed with collagen staining. Hydroxyproline (Hyp) contents in liver tissue of the rats in 3 groups were determined with HCl hydrolysis. The tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) and type IV collagen contents were observed by Envision, and matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) activity was detected by the method of enzyme-picture. Type I collagen was detected by Western blotting.
Results:
The contents of Hyp, TIMP-2, type IV collagen, and the expression of type I collagen in untreated group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group, while those in Cordyceps sinensis-treated group were significantly lower than those in the untreated group. The content of MMP-2 in untreated group was significantly lower than that in the normal control group, while that in Cordyceps sinensis-treated group was significantly higher than that in the untreated group.
Conclusion:
Cordyceps sinensis can considerably relieve the liver fibrosis, and the mechanism may be related to promoting the degradation of the collagens.
