Temporal expression of hepatic inducible nitric oxide synthase in liver cirrhosis

Figure 1 Histology index of BDL livers. The liver sections were read by two pathologists independently. The histology score was based on necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, ductular proliferation as well as fibrosis. Data were presented as mean±SD.

Figure 2 Temporal iNOS mRNA expression in hepatocytes. At different time points after BDL operation, hepatocytes were isolated and iNOS mRNA expression was determined by competitive RT-PCR. A: Typical agarose gel of hepatic iNOS expression (representative of at least three separate experiments). B: Quantitative analysis of iNOS mRNA expression in hepatocytes in the process of cirrhosis development. 3d-4 wk, three days to four weeks after surgery. ^bP<0.01 for BDL versus sham-operated, 1-3 wk after surgery; ^dP<0.01 for 2 wk versus all other time points after BDL; ^fP<0.01 for 4 wk versus 3 wk after BDL.

Figure 3 Temporal expression of iNOS protein in hepatocytes. At different time points after BDL, hepatocytes were isolated and iNOS protein was examined by immunoblot analysis. A: Typical result of immunoblotting for iNOS. B: Semi-quantitative analysis of iNOS protein expression. 3d-4 wk, three days to four weeks after surgery. ^bP<0.01 for sham-operated vs BDL at each time point; ^dP<0.01 for 2 wk vs all other time points after BDL; ^fP<0.01 for 3 wk vs all other time points after BDL except wk 4.

Figure 4 Hepatic NOS activity in the course of cirrhosis development. At different time points after operation, hepatocytes were isolated and NOS activity was determined by L-citrulline generation assay as described in Materials and Methods. 3d-4 wk, three days to four weeks after BDL or sham operation. ^bP<0.01 for sham-operated versus BDL at each time points; ^eP<0.05 for 3 wk vs all other time points after BDL except 4 wk. A: Total NOS activity, ^dP<0.01 for 1 wk vs all other points except 2 wk after BDL; B: iNOS activity, ^cP<0.05 for 1 wk vs 3 d and 2 wk after BDL.