Schisandrae Fructus oil-induced elevation in serum triglyceride and lipoprotein concentrations associated with physiologic hepatomegaly in mice

• Published in: Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 59 - 68
• Main Authors: Pan, Si-Yuan, Song, Xue-Lan, Lin, Zhao-Heng, Yu, Qing, Zhang, Yi, Tai, Hai-Chuan, Luo, Gan, Wang, Xiao-Yan, Zhu, Pei-Li, Sun, Nan, Chu, Zhu-Sheng, Yu, Zhi-Ling, Ko, Kam-Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.02.2022; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Blood lipoproteins; Care and treatment; Health aspects; Hepatomegaly; Lipoproteins; Proteolipids; Schisandra; schisandrae fructus oils; triglyceride; alanine aminotransferase; hepatomegaly; mouse model; hypertriglyceridemia; Triglycerides; China
• DOI: 10.4103/2221-1691.335694
• ISSN: 2221-1691

Objective: To investigate hypertriglyceridemia and hepatomegaly caused by Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus (FSS) and Schisandra chinensis Fructus (FSC) oils in mice. Methods: Mice were orally administered a single dose of Schisandrae Fructus oils. Serum and hepatic triglyceride (TG), triglyceride transfer protein (TTP), apolipoprotein B48 (Apo B48), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), alanine aminotransfease (ALT) and liver index were measured at 6-120 h post-dosing. Results: FSS and FSC oil caused time and dose-dependent increases in serum and hepatic TG levels, with maximum increases in the liver (by 297% and 340%) at 12 h post-dosing and serum (244% and 439%) at 24-h post-dosing, respectively. Schisandrae Fructus oil treatments also elevated the levels of serum TTP by 51% and 63%, Apo B48 by 152% and 425%, and VLDL by 67% and 38% in mice, respectively. FSS and FSC oil treatments also increased liver mass by 53% and 55% and HGF by 106% and 174%, but lowered serum ALT activity by 38% and 22%, respectively. Fenofibrate pre/ co-treatment attenuated the FSS and FSC oil-induced elevation in serum TG levels by 41% and 49% at 48 h post-dosing, respectively, but increased hepatic TG contents (by 38% and 33%, respectively) at 12 h post-dosing. Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence to support the establishment of a novel mouse model of hypertriglyceridemia by oral administration of FSS oil (mainly increasing endogenous TG) and FSC oil (mainly elevating exogenous TG).