Effects of nuclear factor-kappaB on rat hepatocyte regeneration and apoptosis after 70% portal branch ligation

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG Vol. 11; no. 43; pp. 6775 - 6779
• Main Authors: Yang, Wen-Jun, Zhang, Qi-Yu, Yu, Zheng-Ping, Song, Qi-Tong, Liang, Hua-Ping, Xu, Xiang, Zhu, Guan-Bao, Jiang, Fei-Zhao, Shi, Hong-Qi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Department of General Surgery,the First Affiliated Hospital,Wenzhou Medical College,Zhejiang Province,China Hua-Ping Liang,Xiang Xu,Research Institute of Surgery,3rd Military Medical University,Chongqing,China%Research Institute of Surgery,3rd Military Medical University,Chongqing,China 21.11.2005; Baishideng Publishing Group Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis - physiology; Basic Research; Hepatocytes - metabolism; Hepatocytes - ultrastructure; Humans; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Ligation; Liver Regeneration - physiology; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Portal Vein - surgery; Random Allocation; Rats; Regeneration; Nuclear factor-kappaB; Portal branch ligation; Apoptosis
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i43.6775
• ISSN: 1007-9327

To detect the DNA binding activity of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in rat hepatocyte and to investigate the effects of NF-kappaB on rat hepatocyte regeneration and apoptosis after 70% portal branch ligation. Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and portal branch ligation group. The animals were killed 12 h, 1, 2, 3, 7, and 14 d after surgery to determine the contents of plasma ALT. Hepatocytes were isolated and nuclear protein was extracted. DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB was measured by EMSA. Hepatocyte regeneration and apoptosis were observed under microscope by TUNEL staining. The ultrastructural changes of liver were observed under electron microscope. Seventy percent portal branch ligation produced atrophy of the ligated lobes and the perfused lobes underwent compensatory regeneration, the total liver weight and plasma ALT levels were maintained at the level of sham-operated animals throughout the experiment. After 2 d of portal branch ligation, DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB in hepatocyte increased and reached its peak, the number of apoptotic hepatocyte in the ligated lobes and the number of mitotic hepatocyte in the perfused lobes also reached their peak. Typical apoptotic changes and evident fibrotic changes in the ligated lobes were observed under electron microscope. After 70% portal branch ligation, DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB in hepatocyte is significantly increased and NF-kappaB plays an important role in hepatocyte regeneration and apoptosis.