Apoptosis and bcl-2 protein expression in experimental alcoholic liver disease in the rat

Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1995 Aug;19(4):854-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1995.tb00958.x.

Abstract

We used the intragastric feeding rat model to investigate the relationship between severity of alcoholic liver injury, apoptosis, bcl-2 protein expression, and lipid peroxidation. Rats were fed ethanol with different dietary fats (saturated fat, corn oil, and fish oil) for a 1-month period. Apoptosis was evaluated using an immunohistochemical method, and flow cytometry. Bcl-2 protein concentrations in liver were evaluated by Western blot analysis and lipid peroxidation by measurement of conjugated dienes. Pathological changes (fatty liver, necrosis, and inflammation) were present in corn oil-ethanol and fish oil-ethanol groups only. The highest number of apoptotic cells were seen in the group of rats exhibiting liver injury. The fish oil-ethanol-fed group had the highest concentrations of bcl-2 protein; this protein was localized in the bile duct epithelial and inflammatory cells. A significant correlation was seen between bcl-2 protein assessed densitometrically and the number of inflammatory cells/mm2 (r = 0.78, p < 0.02) and conjugated diene levels (r = 0.82, p < 0.01). Increased numbers of apoptotic cells were seen in rats developing ethanol-induced pathological liver injury. Increased bcl-2 protein concentration are associated with the presence of inflammatory cells and lipid peroxidation.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Lipid Peroxidation / genetics
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / genetics*
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / genetics*
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / pathology
  • Male
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2