Intestinal expressions of eNOSmRNA and iNOSmRNA in rats with acute liver failure

AIM To observe the gene expression change of eNOSmRNA and iNOSmRNA in the s mall and large intestines with acute liver failure (ALF), and to reveal the biological function of NO on the pathogeniesis of ALF and multiple organs dysfunction at the molecular level. METHODS Sixty male Wistar rats were selected, weighing from 250 g to 350 g, and divided into 5 groups randomly: SO, ALF (6 h, 12 h), L-Arg, L-NAME, L- Arg and L-NAME, each group with 10 rats. The dose of L-Arg was 300 mg . kg( -1), and L-NAME was 30 mg . kg(-1), the reagents diluted by normal saline w ere injected through tail vein 30 minutes pre- and post-operation. The rats in the ALF group were respectively sacrificed postoperatively at 6 h, 12 h , and the rats in the other groups were sacrificed postoperatively at 6 h. The tissues of small and large intestines were harvested in 4% paraforaldeh yde containing the reagent of DEPC and fixed at 6 h, embedded in paraffin, and 4 pm section was cut. The expression of eNOSmRNA and iNOSmRNA in these tissues was determined with in situ hybridization, and analyzed with the im aging analysis system of CMM-3 and SPSS statistical software. RESULTS The expression of eNOSmRNA in the large intestine and iNOSmRNA in t he small and large intestines increased significantly at 6 h after ALF, but the expression of iNOSmRNA in the small and large intestines reduced notab ly at 12 h after ALF (P <0.05); the expression of eNOSmRNA in the large int estine and iNOSmRNA in the small and large intestines decreased significant ly with the reagents of L-Arg at 6 h ALF, but the expression of eNOSmRNA an d iNOSmRNA in the small and large intestines decreased totally with the rea gents of L-NAME or association with L-Arg 6 h ALF. CONCLUSION The expression of eNOSmRNA in the large intestine increased nota bly at the early stage of ALF, No induced by the enzyme of eNOS from the tr ansplantation of eNOSmRNA can protect the function of the large intestine, the high expression of iNOSmRNA is involved in the damaged function of the small and large intestines. NO precursor can reduce the expression of iNOSm RNA in the small and large intestines and the damage to intestines; NOS inh ibitor or association with NO precursor can totally lower the expression of eNOSmRNA and iNOSmRNA in the small and large intestines, it cannot notably influence the NOS inhibitor in the gene expression of eNOSmRNA and iNOSmRN A to supply the additional NO precursor.