Basic Research
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 21, 2005; 11(43): 6775-6779
Published online Nov 21, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i43.6775
Effects of nuclear factor-kappaB on rat hepatocyte regeneration and apoptosis after 70% portal branch ligation
Wen-Jun Yang, Qi-Yu Zhang, Zheng-Ping Yu, Qi-Tong Song, Hua-Ping Liang, Xiang Xu, Guan-Bao Zhu, Fei-Zhao Jiang, Hong-Qi Shi
Wen-Jun Yang, Qi-Yu Zhang, Zheng-Ping Yu, Qi-Tong Song, Guan-Bao Zhu, Fei-Zhao Jiang, Hong-Qi Shi, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Zhejiang Province, China
Hua-Ping Liang, Xiang Xu, Research Institute of Surgery, 3rd Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr Wen-Jun Yang, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China. yangwenjun165@sohu.com
Telephone: +86-577-88069208
Received: March 18, 2005
Revised: April 26, 2005
Accepted: April 30, 2005
Published online: November 21, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To detect the DNA binding activity of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-кB) in rat hepatocyte and to investigate the effects of NF-кB on rat hepatocyte regeneration and apoptosis after 70% portal branch ligation.

METHODS: Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and portal branch ligation group. The animals were killed 12 h, 1, 2, 3, 7, and 14 d after surgery to determine the contents of plasma ALT. Hepatocytes were isolated and nuclear protein was extracted. DNA binding activity of NF-κB was measured by EMSA. Hepatocyte regeneration and apoptosis were observed under microscope by TUNEL staining. The ultrastructural changes of liver were observed under electron microscope.

RESULTS: Seventy percent portal branch ligation produced atrophy of the ligated lobes and the perfused lobes underwent compensatory regeneration, the total liver weight and plasma ALT levels were maintained at the level of sham-operated animals throughout the experiment. After 2 d of portal branch ligation, DNA binding activity of NF-кB in hepatocyte increased and reached its peak, the number of apoptotic hepatocyte in the ligated lobes and the number of mitotic hepatocyte in the perfused lobes also reached their peak. Typical apoptotic changes and evident fibrotic changes in the ligated lobes were observed under electron microscope.

CONCLUSION: After 70% portal branch ligation, DNA binding activity of NF-кB in hepatocyte is significantly increased and NF-кB plays an important role in hepatocyte regeneration and apoptosis.

Keywords: Portal branch ligation; Nuclear factor-kappaB; Regeneration; Apoptosis