Effect of Zuogui Pill on Liver Injury and HPA Axis Function in Offspring of Pregnant Rats with Abnormal Glucose Metabolism

XU Kaixia; YANG Min; WU Yujie; WANG Chaoqun; TAN Beixi; ZHAI Zhiguang; WANG Yonghui

Abstract：Objective By administering Zuogui pill during pregnancy,we observed whether it could alleviate liver injury in pregnant rats with abnormal glucose metabolism and its influence on the HPA axis function of the offspring rats. Methods A rat model of abnormal glucose metabolism during pregnancy was established and intervened with Zuogui pill.On the 20th day of pregnancy,the effects of Zuogui pill on the weight and food intake of the model rats were detected. ELISA was used to detect blood glucose of model rats,and the liver injury of model rats was observed by HE staining. After delivery,the changes of body weight,liver weight and percentage of liver weight/body weight of the offspring (0～10 weeks) were observed. The expression of GR,CRH,and ACTH in the brain tissue of the offspring at 10 weeks was detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR. Serum CORT content was measured by ELISA at 10 weeks. Results In the late pregnancy stage,compared with the model group,the body weight of pregnant rat in the Zuogui pill treatment group significantly increased in a concentration dependent manner (P<0.05). The food intake and blood glucose levels of pregnant rats in the Zuogui pill treatment group were significantly lower than those in the model group,and were concentration-dependent (P<0.05). The degree of liver tissue damage of pregnant rats with metabolic abnormality treated by Zuogui pill was significantly lower than that of model group. The body weight of the offspring in Zuogui pill treatment group was significantly higher than that in model group in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05),but Zuogui pill had no effect on the liver weight and the percentage of liver weight/body weight in the offspring (P>0.05). The offspring of pregnant rat with abnormal glucose metabolism showed high expressions of GR,CRH,ACTH,and CORT. Taking Zuogui pill could reduce the expressions of GR,CRH,ACTH,and CORT in the offspring of pregnant mice with abnormal glucose metabolism (P<0.05). Conclusion Zuogui pill can alleviate liver damage in pregnant mice with abnormal glucose metabolism and HPA axis dysfunction in their offspring,providing experimental basis for the theory of kidney governing reproduction and development,and liver-kidney homology in traditional Chinese medicine.