No abstract available.
Adult ; Bile Ducts/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary/*genetics/pathology ; Middle Aged

AIMTo observe the dynamic expression of ERK1 in fibrotic rat liver.

METHODSThe rat hepatic fibrosis was induced by bile duct ligation (BDL). Histopathological changes were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and by Masson's trichrome method. ERK1 mRNA in liver was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), while the distribution of ERK1 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. ERK1 protein was detected by using Western blotting analysis.

RESULTSWith the development of hepatic fibrosis, the positive cells of ERK1 increased a lot, they were mainly distributed at portal ducts, fiber septa and around the bile ducts, vascular endothelial cells and perisinusoidal cells. Western blotting analysis results displayed that the expression of ERK1 protein were up-regulated with model course, and its levels were the highest at week 4 after operation, achieving to 3.9-fold of that in normal rat liver. ERK1 mRNA expressed in normal rat livers as well, they were up-regulated at day 2 after BDL and its level was the highest at week 4 after BDL.

CONCLUSIONThese data suggest that the expression of ERK1 and its mRNA can be increase greatly in fibrotic rat liver.

Animals ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic changes of a-AR, b1-AR and b2-AR expression in hepatic fibrosis.

METHODSRat hepatic fibrosis model was established by bile duct ligation (BDL). HE and Masson staining were used to determine hepatic fibrosis levels. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect alpha -smooth muscle actin (alpha -SMA), a marker of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation; Western blot and real-time RT-PCR were used to measure the dynamic changes of alpha -AR, beta(1)-AR, beta(2)-AR expression on protein and mRNA levels, respectively, during the development of hepatic fibrosis.

RESULTS(1) HE and Masson trichrome staining showed that the liver fibrosis models were established successfully. (2) At 1, 2, 3, 4 wk after BDL, alpha -SMA positive area density of the model group (10.58% +/- 1.75%, 24.14% +/- 2.02%, 29.74% +/- 2.59%, 34.28% +/- 2.01%) was significantly higher than that of the sham operation group (4.12% +/- 1.51%), P less than 0.01. (3) The expression of alpha -AR, beta(1)-AR, beta(2)-AR protein and mRNA was increased with the development of the hepatic fibrosis (P less than 0.05). (4) alpha -SMA expression was positively associated with alpha -AR, beta(1)-AR, beta(2)-AR, r values were 0.564, 0.753 and 0.606, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of alpha -SMA is increased dramatically during the fibrosis, and is positively associated with the expression of alpha -AR, beta(1)-AR and beta(2)-AR.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; metabolism ; Time Factors