Abstract: Objective To study the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine( 5-HT ) and double-labeled neurons in dorsal raphe of cirrhosis rats. Methods The healthy male Wistar rats were divided into model and control groups(n=10). Within 14 weeks,model group rats were subcutaneously injected by CCl4 plus drinking ethonal. Control group rats received subcutaneously injection of sodium chloride. 5-HT immunohistochemistry and 5-HT immunohistochemistry combined with NADPH-d staining were used to detect the expression of 5-HT and double-labeled neurons in dorsal raphe of rats. Results The average diameter 5-HT neurons in dorsal raphe decreased significantly in the model group compared with that of control group. The optical density value of 5-HT neurons in dorsal raphed increased sinificantly in the mode of group(0. 54 ± 0. 04)compared with that of control group(0. 48 ± 0. 04)(P <0. 01). The quantity of 5-HT neurons and the double-labeled neurons in dorsal raphe hasd no significant difference between two groups. Conclusion Cirrhosis influenced 5-HT neurons in dorsal raphe of rats.

Key words: cirrhosis, rat, dorsal raphe nucleus, 5-HT, neuron