Current Problems of Psychiatry

ORIGINAL PAPER

¹ Department of Histology and Embryology Medical University in Lublin

² Department of Maritime & Hyperbaric Medicine, Military Institute of Medicine, Gdynia

³ Centrum of Diagnosis and Therapy of Digestive System’s Diseases Gdańsk

⁴ Ward of Gyneacology, Independent Public Health Care in Garwolin

In our previous studies we analyzed the influence of nitric oxide (NO) on rats’ liver.

The results showed that L-arginine as a nitric oxide precursor doesn’t induce apoptosis of hepatocytes. In present study we was observing expression of caspase 1, an enzyme activated during inflammation results from necrosis.

The rats used in this experiment were divided into 2 equal groups. Experimental: rats received per os L-arginine 40mg/kg body weight, every other day for 2 weeks and were decapitated after 3 weeks of the experiment. Control rats received per os 2ml of distilled water every other day for 2 weeks and were decapitated after 3 weeks of the experiment.

Specimens of the liver taken after decapitation were examined in immunohistochemical way using standard three step method to detect immunolocalization of caspase 1. The results of immunohistochemical examinations were subjected to qualitative evaluation taking into account the intensity of colour reaction at the antigen-antibody site in rat liver examined in individual groups. The quantitative evaluation was using the Analysis-pro software. The surface area of cells with positive reaction (+) was calculated.

The quantitative evaluation of caspase 1 expression showed that the area occupied by positive caspase 1 reaction in the rat liver of the experimental group was comparable to that in the control group. The study shows that L-arginine as a donor of exogenous nitric oxide did not have a necrotic effect on the hepatocytes of the rats.