Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of silybinphosphatidylcholine compound (SPC) on expressions of collagens type I and III in the fibrotic liver.METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, SPC intervened group, model control group, and SPC therapeutic group.The animal models of liver fibrosis were induced by intraperitoneal injection with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN).Liver fibrosis stages were evaluated on the liver tissue sections which were performed with HE and Reticulation' s stain.Semiquantitive RT-PCR was performed to determine mRNA levels of collagens type I and III in liver tissues.Immunohistochemical staining was performed to show the positive expression of collagens type I and III in liver tissues.RESULTS: Compared with model group, liver fibrosis stage in SPC intervened grouPwas obviously lowered.Compared with model control group, the liver fibrosis was significantly relieved after SPC' s therapy.In intervened and therapeutic groups, the liver tissue' s mRNA levels of collagen type I and III were all obviously lower than those in the model and model control groups, respectively.In intervened and therapeutic groups, the positive expressions in liver tissues of collagens type I and III were all much weaker than those in the model and model control groups, respectively.CONCLUSION: Silybin has the positively preventive and therapeutic effects on the experimental liver fibrosis induced by DMN in rats, and inhibiting the expression of collagens type I and III in liver tissues is one of the anti-fibrosis mechanisms of SPC.

Key words: silybin, collagen, liver fibrosis, dimethylnitrosamine, rats