Protective effects of sodium nitrite preconditioning against alcohol-induced acute liver injury in mice.
- Author:
Xiao-Xia LU
1
;
Si-Qian WANG
;
Zhi ZHANG
;
Hong-Rui XU
;
Bin LIU
;
Chao-Shen HUANGFU
Author Information
1. The Institute of Environmental Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Alanine Transaminase;
metabolism;
Alcohols;
adverse effects;
Animals;
Apoptosis;
Aspartate Aminotransferases;
metabolism;
Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury;
drug therapy;
Glutathione Peroxidase;
metabolism;
Hepatocytes;
drug effects;
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit;
metabolism;
Male;
Malondialdehyde;
metabolism;
Mice;
Mice, Inbred C57BL;
Oxidative Stress;
Protective Agents;
pharmacology;
Sodium Nitrite;
pharmacology;
Superoxide Dismutase;
metabolism;
Up-Regulation
- From:
Acta Physiologica Sinica
2012;64(3):313-320
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of sodium nitrite (SN) on alcohol-induced acute liver injury in mice. Forty male C57bL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups. Acute alcohol-induced liver injury group were injected intraperitoneal (ip) with alcohol (4.5 g/kg); SN preconditioning group were pretreated with SN (16 mg/kg, ip) for 12 h, and received alcohol (4.5 g/kg, ip) injection; Control and SN groups were treated with saline and SN, respectively. After the treatments, liver index (liver/body weight ratio) was determined. Colorimetric technique was performed to measure the serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) activities, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) content. The pathological index of liver tissue was assayed by HE and TUNEL fluorometric staining. Using Western blot and immunohistochemistry staining, the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein was detected. The results showed that, compared with acute alcohol-induced liver injury group, pretreatment with low doses of SN decreased liver index and serum levels of ALT and AST, weakened acute alcohol-induced hepatocyte necrosis, improved pathological changes in liver tissue, increased live tissue SOD, GSH-Px and CAT activities, reduced MDA content and apoptosis index of hepatocytes, and up-regulated HIF-1α protein level in liver tissue. These results suggest that the pretreatment of SN can protect hepatocytes against alcohol-induced acute injury, and the protective mechanism involves inhibition of oxidative stress and up-regulation of HIF-1α protein level.
