Abstract: Objective To assess the effects of Rehmannia and Storesin (RS) on peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) in early hepatic encephalopathy (HE) rats. Methods CCl₄ was used to induce the HE model. The benzodiazepine binding sites of PBRs in rats cortex were studied using the specific ligands [³] PK11195. Lactulose was used in the positive medicine group, and the treatment groups received different dosages of RS. Results The specific binding and the Bmax value of [³] PK11195 both significantly increased in the model group than in the control group (P<0.01). The specific binding decreased in the medium dosage group and the high dosage group than in the model group (P<0.05), and the Bmax value of [³] PK11195RS-H decreased in the high dosage group than in the model group (P<0.01). Conclusion Rehmannia and Storesin is effective on early HE rats by decreasing the specific binding of PBRs, which could reduce the neural injury.

Key words: Rehmannia, Storesin, hepatic encephalopathy, peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors, rats