PI 3-kinase pathway is responsible for antiapoptotic effects of atrial natriuretic peptide in rat liver transplantation

Figure 2 Effect of ANP-preconditioning on PI-3-kinase/Akt pathway. A: After intravenous infusion of NaCl (Co), ANP (5 µg/kg), wortmannin (WM, 16 µg/kg), or a combination of both (WM/ANP) for 20 min livers were excised and snap frozen. pAkt was examined via Western blotting. Data obtained from densitometry were presented as percent of Co (100%) and expressed as mean ± SE, n = 4 in each group. ^dP < 0.01 vs ANP treatment; ^fP < 0.001 vs Co treatment. B: Animals were treated as described under A. After 24 h ischemia livers were homogenized and caspase-3 activity was determined as described before. Data were expressed as percent of caspase-3 activity in untreated livers (Co, 100%) and mean ± SE, n = 4 in each group. ^bP < 0.01 vs WM treatment.