Plasma amino acids in CCl_4 induced cirrhosis in rats intervened by compound pollen nutrients

Objective To observe the changes of plasma amino acids in CCl4 induced cirrhosis in rats intervened by compound pollen nutrients.Methods Totally 45 SD rats were randomly divided into control group(n=10) and model group(n=35).The rats in the model group were given 40% CCl4 sunflower seed oil solution(0.2 mL/100 g weight) by intraperitoneal injection,twice per week for 12 weeks.In the 12th week,32/35 rats in the model group were found to have liver cirrhosis confirmed by pathology,the rats in control group were all alive.Four rats in model and 3 in control group were sacrificed before the nutritional intervention and the levels of plasma amino acids were measured as baseline.The left 7 rats from control group were sacrificed at week 2 and 4 after the nutritional intervention;while the rest 28 rats in model group were randomly divided into 4 groups: Group 1(receiving normal dietary,n=7),Group 2(receiving compound pollen nutrients,n=7),Group 3(receiving high dose noveliver,n=7) and Group 4(receiving low dose noveliver,n=7).Rats of each group were sacrificed at week 2(3/7 rats) and 4(4/7 rats) respectively after the nutritional intervention and the levels of the plasma amino acids were measured for each group.Results ① The baseline levels of plasma amino acids: the levels of branched-chain amino acids(BCAA) and aromatic amino acids(AAA) in model group were lower than in control group,the ratio of BCAA/AAA were 1.48±0.05 and 1.48±0.13 respectively with no significant difference between two groups.② At week 2: the levels of BCAA in Group 3 was higher than in Group 2 and 4;the levels of AAA in Group 2 and 3 were lower than those of the other 3 groups; the ratios of BCAA/AAA in control group,Group 1,2,3 and 4 were 1.54±0.11,1.59±0.43,1.82±0.11,1.98±0.55 and 1.58±0.04 respectively,the ratios of Group 2 and 3 were higher than those of the other 3 groups.③ At week 4: the levels of BCAA of Group 2,3 and 4 were higher than that of the normal dietary group(Group 1);the levels of AAA in Group 2 and 4 were lower than those of the other 3 groups;the ratios of BCAA/AAA in control group,Group 1,2,3 and 4 were 1.44±0.14,1.16±0.35,1.40±0.24,1.51±0.08,and 1.40±0.15 respectively,the ratios of Group 2,3 and 4 were higher than that of the normal dietary group(group 1).Conclusion The overall level of plasma amino acids in CCl4 induced liver cirrhotic rats was lower than that of the rats in control group.Compound pollen nutrients tended to increase the level of plasma BCAA and the ratio of BCAA/AAA.Compared with Goup1,2 and 4,the rats receiving high dose Noveliver(Group 3) had higher level of plasma BCAA and ratio.The intervention duration of 4 weeks achieved higher plasma BCAA level and ratio higher than that at 2 weeks.The results of the present study suggested that compound pollen nutrients may correct the imbalance of plasma amino acids in CCl4 induced cirrhotic rats.The findings of the present study hopefully promote a better understanding of nutrient intervention in cirrhosis patients.