Melatonin attenuates splanchnic hyperdynamic circulation in cirrhotic portal hypertension by disrupting POMK-VEGFR2 interaction

Figure 1 Melatonin alleviated bile duct ligation-induced liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. A: Construction of animal model of liver cirrhosis and melatonin administration; B: The levels of plasma liver injury markers alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin in rats; C: The histological staining of liver tissue sections using hematoxylin and eosin, Masson’s trichrome, and Sirius red. Immunohistochemical staining of collagen I and α-smooth muscle actin in rat livers; D: Quantitative analysis of histopathological and immunohistochemical staining in C; E: Western blotting of hepatic VEGFR-2 and its phosphorylated form; F: Quantitative analysis of VEGFR-2 phosphorylation. ^aP < 0.05. ^bP < 0.01. BDL: Bile duct ligation; MLT: Melatonin; α-SMA: Α-smooth muscle actin; HE: Hematoxylin and eosin; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase.