3.4 PTUPB reduces liver injury and steatosis in obese ZSF1 rats
Type 2 diabetic obese ZSF1 rats had liver injury along with hyperlipidemia. Obese ZSF1 rats had 2-3 fold higher plasma levels of two important liver injury biomarkers, AST and ALT, compared to lean ZSF1 rats. Interventional PTUPB but not enalapril treatment lowered AST and ALT plasma levels to levels similar to that of lean ZSF1 rats (Figure 7A, B). The obese ZSF1 rats had marked liver fibrosis with a 5-fold higher liver collagen expression compared to lean ZSF1 rats. PTUPB treatment markedly reduced liver collagen expression in the obese ZSF1 rats. Enalapril treatment was ineffective in lowering liver fibrosis in obese ZSF1 rats (Figure 7C, E). The obese ZSF1 rats had marked hepatosteatosis with 3 times higher liver steatotic area compared to lean ZSF1 rats. PTUPB treatment attenuated hepatosteatosis in the obese ZSF1 rats by 50%. Enalapril treatment did not affect hepatosteatosis in obese ZSF1 rats. (Figure 7D, F).