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Apoptosis is an important process in a wide variety of different biological systems. In addition to caspases, recently, calpains, another family of proteases, have been found to be involved in apoptosis of many cell systems. This study is designed with the aims to evaluate the possible effect of Z-LLY-FMK (a calpain inhibitor) on intestine apoptosis after bile duct ligation in rats. Male Sprague–Dawley rats weighing 250–300 g were randomized to five groups ( n = 6 in each group). Group 1 (Control: C) underwent Sham operation and were simultaneously treated with the same amount of normal saline. Group 2 (Control with DMSO: CDMSO) underwent Sham operation and were simultaneously treated with the same amount of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Group 3 (Obstructive jaundice: OB) underwent common bile duct ligation without any other manipulation. Group 4 (Obstructive jaundice with Z-LLY-FMK: OBZLLY) underwent common bile duct ligation and were simultaneously treated with Z-LLY-FMK (dissolved in DMSO). Group 5 (Obstructive jaundice with ZFA-FMK: OBZFA) underwent common bile duct ligation and were simultaneously treated with ZFA-FMK (dissolved in DMSO). After 3 days, intestine tissue was harvested for apoptosis measurements. There was no significant difference between Sham operation group (C) and Sham operation with DMSO group (CDMSO) either in jejunum ( P = 0.924) or in ileum ( P = 0.996). When compared to Sham operation group (C), increased intestine apoptosis occurred in either jejunum ( P < 0.001) or in ileum ( P < 0.001) after common bile duct ligation (OB). After administration of Z-LLY-FMK (OBZLLY), the increased intestine apoptosis after common bile duct ligation (OB) was significantly diminished either in jejunum or in ileum ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). Moreover, administration of ZFA (OBZFA) failed to show the same phenomenon in either jejunum ( P = 0.993) or ileum ( P = 0.485). There was a significant difference in intestine apoptosis in either jejunum ( P < 0.001) or in ileum ( P < 0.001) between OBZLLY group and OBZFA group. Significantly increased intestine apoptosis occurred after common bile duct ligation. The administration of Z-LLY-FMK could effectively diminish the intestine apoptosis after common bile duct ligation, whereas the administration of ZFA-FMK failed to show the same effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstructive jaundice may promote bacterial overgrowth and altered intestinal barrier function, with resultant increased translocation of endotoxin to the liver, amd thus may potentiate the phenomenon of hepatocyte apoptosis. Exogenous administration of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) has been shown to enhance mucosal adaptation after small bowel resection in rats and also to accelerate repair of small intestinal mucosa after damage by the chemotherapy drug methotrexate. The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of exogenous IGF-I administration on hepatocyte apoptosis after bile duct ligation in rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g were randomized to three groups (n=6 in each group). Group 1 (control; C) underwent sham operation and was simultaneously treated with the same amount of normal saline. Group 2 (obstructive jaundice; OB) underwent common bile duct ligation without other manipulation. Group 3 (obstructive jaundice with IGF-I; OBIGF-I) underwent common bile duct ligation and simultaneous treatment with recombinant human IGF-I (a total dose of 1 mg in each rat, divided into six administrations; about 1 mg/kg/day). After 3 days, liver tissue was harvested and immediately snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen for histopathologic analysis and apoptosis measurements. Compared with the sham operation group (C), increased hepatocyte apoptosis (P < 0.001) and ductular proliferation (P < 0.001) occurred after common bile duct ligation (OB). After administration of IGF-I (OBIFG-I), the increased hepatocyte apoptosis and ductular proliferation after common bile duct ligation (OB) were significantly diminished (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in hepatocyte apoptosis (P=0.925) or ductular proliferation (P=0.385) between the sham control group (C) and the OBIGF-I group. Increased hepatocyte apoptosis (P < 0.001) and ductular proliferation (P < 0.001) occurred after common bile duct ligation (OB). After administration of IGF-I (OBIFG-I), the increased hepatocyte apoptosis and ductular proliferation after common bile duct ligation (OB) were significantly diminished (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translocation of bacteria and endotoxtin has long been documented in obstructive jaundice, and altered intestinal barrier function is considered to be one of the important mechanisms for this phenomenon. The regulation of gastrointestinal mucosal response to injury is thus of important clinical as well as biological relevance. Integrins play a critical role in enterocyte migration, which is essential to mucosal healing. This study is designed to evaluate the integrins status in obstructive jaundice. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 37) were randomized to three groups. Group 1 (N = 12) underwent common bile duct ligation (CBDL), group 2 (N = 12) underwent common bile duct ligation with oral glutamine administration (CBDL + G), and group 3 (N = 13) underwent a sham operation (sham control). After seven days, segments of proximal jejunum and distal ileum were harvested, and cell surface immunohistochemical expression of LFA-1alpha and VLA-6 were evaluated and recorded. The staining intensities were graded on a scale of 0-4. Comparisons among the three groups were performed. There was no significant difference in VLA-6 staining on small intestine among the three groups (P > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in LFA-1alpha staining the on jejunum between group 1 (CBDL) and group 3 (sham control) (P > 0.05). However, the LFA-1alpha staining on the ileum in group 1 (CBDL) significantly decreased when compared with group 3 (sham control) (P = 0.008). With oral glutamine administration (0.2 g/kg body weight, once daily), LFA-1alpha staining on the ileum was significantly restored in group 2 (CBDL + G). In conclusion, obstructive jaundice for one week down-regulates LFA-1alpha expression on rat ileum. With oral glutamine administration, such down-regulation of LFA-1alpha expression on rat ileum can be restored. Such a phenomenon is intriguing and deserves further evaluation and elucidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Altered gallbladder motility by progesterone has been recognized as an important factor in the development of gallstones. There are two types of hepatolithiasis, that occurs de novo in the intrahepatic ducts with an intact gallbladder (primary hepatolithiasis) and that which originates in the gallbladder and the stones migrate into the intrahepatic duct (secondary hepatolithiasis). This study was designed to evaluate the possible role of the progesterone receptor of gallbladder in the pathogenesis of hepatolithiasis. Eighty-four patients with hepatolithiasis (34 patients had primary hepatolithiasis and the other 50 patients secondary hepatolithiasis) were included. Paraffin-embedded specimens of gallbladder were processed to have an immunohistochemical staining for progesterone receptor. Positivity for progesterone receptor of gallbladder specimens was noted in eight patients (23.5%) with primary hepatolithiasis and in 23 patients (46%) with secondary hepatolithiasis. There is significant difference (P = 0.031) in positive rate for progesterone receptor between the primary hepatolithiasis and secondary hepatolithiasis groups. In conclusion, many more patients (46%) with secondary hepatolithiasis show positivity for progesterone receptor of gallbladder specimens than patients with primary hepatolithiasis (23.5%) (P = 0.031). This phenomenon is intriguing and should be of further evaluation and elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]