Boldine attenuates cholestasis associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in hereditary hypertriglyceridemic rats fed by high-sucrose diet.

The aim of the current study was to clarify the effect of high sucrose diet (HSD) on bile formation (BF) in rats with hereditary hypertriglyceridemia (HHTg). Potentially positive effects were studied for boldine, a natural choleretic agent. Administration of HSD to HHTg rats led to increased triglyceride deposition in the liver. HSD reduced BF as a consequence of decreased biliary secretion of bile acids (BA) and glutathione. Responsible mechanism was down-regulation of hepatic transporters for BA and glutathione, Bsep and Mrp2, respectively. Moreover, gene expressions of transporters for other constituents of bile, namely Abcg5/8 for cholesterol, Abcb4 for phospholipids, and Oatp1a4 for xenobiotics, were also reduced by HSD. Boldine partially attenuated cholestatic effect of HSD by promotion of biliary secretion of BA through up-regulation of Bsep and Ntcp, and by increase in biliary secretion of glutathione as a consequence of its increased hepatic disposition. This study demonstrates mechanisms of impaired BF during nonalcoholic fatty liver disease induced by HSD. Altered function of responsible transporters suggests also potential for changes in kinetics of drugs, which may complicate pharmacotherapy in subjects with high intake of sucrose, and with fatty liver disease. Sucrose induced alterations in BF may be alleviated by administration of boldine.