Protective effect of Qihuo decoction on the liver of rats with sleep deprivation in the humid and hot environment

Objective To explore the protective effect of Qihuo decoction (QHD) on the livers of sleep-deprived rats housed in the humid and hot environment, and to characterize ultrastructural changes of livers in these rats. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomized into 4 groups (10 each group): blank control group (BC group), humid and hot control group (HC group), humid and hot with sleep deprivation group (HS group), and humid and hot with sleep-deprived treated with QHD group (HSQ group). Rats in BC group were housed in the normal temperature and humidity chamber; while rats in HC group, HS group, and HSQ group were housed in the simulated hot and humid chamber. Rats in BC group, HC group, and HS group were given distilled water to gavage for 15 days, and rats in HSQ group were given QHD to gavage for 15 days. Then rats in HS group and HSQ group were sleep deprived for 72 hours. The serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected. The liver tissues