Increase in Nociception Threshold and Decrease in Mu-Opioid Receptor Gene Expression in Liver of a Rat Model of Hepatic Encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a brain disorder with impairment of cognitive and motor functions caused by liver failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in nociception threshold as well as gene expression of mu-opioid receptor 1 (MOR1) in rat liver after induction of HE.
The male rats (280-320 g) were randomly divided into three groups of control (non-operated), sham (operated without common bile duct ligation) and a group with a common bile duct ligation (BDL) as an experimental model of HE. Changes in nociception threshold were assessed on day 21 of BDL, using a hotplate test. On day 21 of BDL, rats were weighed, sacrificed and total liver tissue was dissected and weighed, then percentage of liver to body weight was measured. In addition, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis of serum, and a piece of the liver of each rat was dissected for evaluating the MOR1 gene expression.
The results showed that nociception threshold, percentage of liver to body weights, and serum levels of total bilirubin were significantly increased in the HE model group compared to the sham group (P Our data indicate that chronic liver failure modulates the MOR1 gene expression in liver. In addition, changes in nociception threshold may confirm a slowness of sensory processing in HE.