ULTRASTRUCTURAL AND ULTRACYTOCHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF PREADMINISTRATION OF XIAO-CHAI-HU-TANG ON HEPATIC DISORDERS INDUCED BY D-GALACTOSAMINE HCL

Abstract

The effect of preadministration of Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang on hepatic disorders, induced by D-galactosamine HCl, were examined morphologically and histocytochemically. A single intraperitoneal injection of 800mg/kg or 1500mg/kg D-galactosamine HCl induced remarkable histo- and cytologic changes in the rat liver. Light microscopically, the liver showed diffuse parenchymal damage, in which hepatic cell cords were disorganized and a marked accumulation of lipid droplets were found in the hepatocytes. Ultrastructurally, disruption of lamellar arrangement of rough endoplasmic reticulum, dissociation of intrahepatic cell space and an increase in the number of autophagic vacuoles were observed in the control groups after the administration of D-galactosamine HCl. Histo- and cytochemical detection of 5′-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase activities revealed disruption of the bile canaliculi system and a disturbance of plasma membrane. Activity of the glucose-6-phosphatase disclosed an uneven distribution of enzymes cell by cell.
However, no conspicuous pathological and histocytochemical changes were found in the liver preadministered with Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang. Biochemical assay revealed that much higher enzyme activities were preserved in the groups preadministered with Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang. From these results, it can be seen that the preadministration of Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang is undoubtedly effective in preventing changes induced by D-galactosamine HCl.