Expression of the inducible form of the nitric oxide synthase gene in the livers of mice with chronic hepatitis.
- Authors:
- Published online on: September 1, 2000 https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.6.3.315
- Pages: 315-322
Metrics: Total
Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Abstract
The interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) transgenic mouse expresses the exogenous IFN-gamma gene in the liver and develops chronic hepatitis. For the present experiment, four IFN-gamma transgene (+) mice of 48 weeks of age and 16 IFN-gamma transgene (+) mice of 8 weeks of age were used. The four IFN-gamma transgene (+) mice of 48 weeks of age showed significantly elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and expressed the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in the liver. Of the 16 IFN-gamma transgene (+) mice of 8 weeks of age, iNOS mRNA was expressed in the livers of three. These three mice exhibited higher plasma ALT levels than the other mice of 8 weeks of age. The present results suggest that iNOS mRNA expression in the liver might be correlated with the progression of hepatitis.
