Inhibitory effects of rapamycin on the different stages of hepatic fibrosis

Table 1 Primer sequences for the polymerase chain reaction

Gene		Primer sequence	Product size (bp)
TGF-β1	Forward	5'-TACAGGGCTTTCGCTTCAGT-3'	394
	Reverse	5'-TGGTTGTAGAGGGCAAGGAC-3'
PDGF	Forward	5'-GTCGAGTCGGAAAGCTCATC-3'	416
	Reverse	5'-GTCACCCGAGTTTGAGGTGT-3'

TGF-β1: Transforming growth factor-β1; PDGF: Platelet derived growth factor.

Table 2 Basal characteristics and results of blood chemistry

Treatment group	BDL+/Rapa-(n = 4)	BDL+/Rapa+(n = 7)	BDL+/Rapa++(n = 7)	BDL-/Rapa-(n = 4)	P value1
TBWt (g)	323.25 ± 85.84	351.28 ± 55.42	338.57 ± 21.16	276.25 ± 15.9	0.136
Liver Wt (g)	20.49 ± 2.68a	23.55 ± 4.90a	21.53 ± 3.10a	10.85 ± 0.38	< 0.0001
Liver Wt/TBWt	0.065 ± 0.011ac	0.069 ± 0.017a	0.064 ± 0.010ac	0.040 ± 0.003c	0.010
AST (U/L)	254.50 ± 143.79	244.43 ± 97.56	293.57 ± 89.67	86.75 ± 10.69	0.023
ALT (U/L)	47.00 ± 17.87	50.86 ± 21.97	52.00 ± 17.58	34.25 ± 2.63	0.429
TB (mg/dL)	9.15 ± 2.16a	8.74 ± 0.92a	11.17 ± 2.11a	0.50 ± 0.14	< 0.0001
TP (g/dL)	5.48 ± 1.28	5.37 ± 0.33	5.74 ± 0.61	5.48 ± 0.38	0.773
Alb (g/dL)	2.65 ± 0.85a	2.81 ± 0.41a	3.43 ± 0.43a	3.83 ± 0.33	0.008

¹Statistical significances were tested by one-way analysis of variances among groups and statistically significant results are indicated by P values.

^aP < 0.05 vs BDL^-/Rapa^-;

^cP < 0.05 vs BDL⁺/Rapa⁺ based on Scheffe multiple comparison test. Basal characteristics and results of blood chemistry in bile duct ligation (BDL⁺/Rapa^-), bile duct ligation with rapamycin (BDL⁺/Rapa⁺, BDL⁺/Rapa⁺⁺) and sham-operated (BDL^-/Rapa^-) groups. Each values indicate mean ± SD. TBWt: Total body weight; Wt: Weight; TP: Total protein; Alb: Abumin; AST: Aspartate transaminase; ALT: Alanine transaminase; TB: Total bilirubin; Rapa: Rapamycin; Rapa⁺: Rat administered rapamycin for 28 d from the 14^th day post-BDL; Rapa⁺⁺: Rat administered rapamycin for 28 d beginning the first day post-BDL.