Interaction of L-Arginine-methyl ester and Sonic hedgehog in liver ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rats

Figure 1 Effects of L-Arg on liver function after liver I/R. AST (A), LDH (B), ALT(C) and GGT (D) values in group 2 were significantly higher compared to groups 1 and 3 (^aP < 0.05 vs group 1; ^cP < 0.05 vs group 3). Values are expressed as mean ± SE. GGT: γ-glutamyltranspeptidase; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: alanine aminotransferase. Group 1 (n = 10), Sham-control group; Group 2 (n = 10), I/R-untreated group; Group 3 (n = 10), I/R-L-Arg group.

Figure 2 Effects of ischemia/reperfusion and L-Arg on MDA levels (A) and IRS (B) of liver tissue. ^aP < 0.05 group 2 vs group 1; ^cP < 0.05 group 2 vs group 3. Values are expressed as mean ± SE, MDA; Malondialdehyde. IRS; Immunoreactivity scores, Group 1 (n = 10), Sham-control group; Group 2 (n = 10), I/R-untreated group; Group 3 (n = 10), I/R-L-Arg group.

Figure 3 A: Group 1 shows normal liver parenchyma with regular morphology of both the hepatocytes and the sinusoids around the central vein (HE; x 200); B: Group 2 shows increase in necrosis (↑) and cell infiltration (↑↑); C: Swollen hepatocytes with marked vacuolization; D: necrosis (↑) (HE, x 200); E: Group 3 rats showing normal morphology of hepatocytes and sinusoids, reflecting well-preserved liver parenchyma (HE, x 200).

Figure 4 A: No expression of Shh in the control group (Immunoperoxidase. X 200); B: Mild Shh-positive immunostaining in group 2 (arrows) (Immunoperoxidase, X 200), C, D, E, F: Intense Shh expression in liver tissue from I/R-L-Arg treated rats (arrows) (Immunoperoxidase, X 200).