Objective: To investigate the effects of baicalein on liver function and insulin resistance of non-alcoholic fat Liver(NAFLD) rats through regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARγ)/liver X receptor α(LXRα)/ATP binding box transporter A1(ABCA1) signaling pathway.Methods: NAFLD rat model was established by feeding high-fat diet, and the rats were randomly divided into model group, bisphenol A-diglycine ether(BADGE) group(PPARγ inhibitor, 20 mg·kg-1 BADGE), baicalein group(50 mg·kg-1 baicalein), baicalein+BADGE group(50 mg·kg-1 baicalein+20 mg·kg-1 BADGE), 10 rats in each group, and another 10 rats were allocated into control group. The levels of triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), fasting insulin(FINS), and fasting blood glucose(FPG) of rats in each group were detected, and the insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR) was calculated; Hematoxylin-Eosin(HE) staining was performed to observe liver pathology; Oil red O staining was performed to measure liver lipid deposition; TUNEL staining was performed to measure liver cell apoptosis; Western blot method was performed to test the expression levels of related protein in liver tissues.Results: Compared with the control group, the liver tissue injury of model group was serious, the levels of TC, TG, FINS, FPG, ALT, AST, NAS score, Organ index and HOMA-IR were significantly increased(P<0.05), and the protein expressions of PPARγ, LXRα and ABCA1 were decreased(P<0.05). Compared with model group, baicalin group had improved pathological injury, decreased apoptosis, decreased TC, TG, FINS, FPG, ALT, AST, NAS score, Organ index and HOMA-IR significantly(P<0.05), and increased protein expression of PPARγ, LXRα and ABCA1(P<0.05); apoptosis of rats in the BADGE group was obviously increased, the levels of TC, TG, FINS, FPG, ALT, AST, NAS score, Organ index and HOMA-IR all increased obviously(P<0.05), and the expression of PPARγ, LXRα, and ABCA1 proteins all decreased(P<0.05). The protective effect of baicalin on NAFLD rats was reversed by BADGE.Conclusion: Baicalein can ameliorate the impaired liver function and abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism, and reduce insulin resistance in NAFLD rats by activating the PPARγ/LXRα/ABCA1 signaling pathway. |