Objective      To investigate the effects of fosinopril on hepatic fibrosis

plasma levels of leptin and adiponectin and their mRNA expression in white adipose tissues in rats with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis induced by high-fat diet (HFD).       Methods      A total of 40 health male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were fed with normal feed for 1 week to adapt to vivarium conditions

and then were randomized into four experimental groups (n=10): a NC group (normal feed and normal saline by gavage)

a HC group (HFD and normal saline by gavage)

a NF group (normal feed and fosinopril 3.6 mg/kg body weight/day by gavage) and a HF group (HFD and fosinopril 3.6 mg/kg body weight/day by gavage). All the rats were sacrificed after fed for 24 weeks. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

triglycerides (TG)

low-density lipoprotein (LDL)

transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)

hyaluronic acid (HA)

leptin and adiponectin were determined. The mRNA expression of leptin and adiponectin in white adipose tissues

collagen I expression in hepatic tissues and histological changes were measured and compared among the four groups.       Results      As compared with the HC group (ALT: 91.30±30.71; TG: 2.25±0.31; LDL: 1.53±0.31; TGF-β: 125.95±8.23; HA: 165.72±29.13; leptin: 130.61±35.56 and adiponectin 5.97±2.19)

the serum levels of ALT (50.20±12.13

P0.05)

TG (1.09±0.34

P0.01)

LDL (1.16±0.13

P0.05)

TGF-β (72.55±23.2

P0.01)

HA (90.13±27.42

P0.01) and leptin (31.74±36.35

P0.05) and hepatic collagen I expression (P0.05) in the HF group were significantly reduced by fosinopril

but the serum level of adiponectin was elevated (21.60±8.43

P0.01). The adiponectin mRNA expression in white adipose tissues was significantly higher in the HF group than in the HC group (P0.001)

whereas the leptin mRNA expression was not affected (P0.05). The liver lobular inflammation score and hepatic fibrosis stage were lessened in the HF group as compared with the HC group.       Conclusion      Fosinopril may prevent hepatic fibrosis in rats with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by reducing the serum level of leptin and elevating the serum level of adiponectin and its mRNA expression in white adipose tissues.