Assessment of L-Arginine as an Effect of Exogenous Nitric Oxide (No) on Expression of Markers of Cellular Stress in Rats’ Hepatocytes

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was immunohistochemical evaluation of heat shock protein (Hsp70) and p-53 proteins in the Larginine- induced cellular stress in hepatocytes of rats. Sixteen white Wistar female rats were divided into two equal groups. The rats from the experimental group received per os 40 mg/kg b.w. of L-arginine every day for 2 weeks and were decapitated after 3 weeks of the experiment. The rats from the control group received in the same manner 2 ml of distilled water and were decapitated after 3 weeks of the experiment. After decapitation specimens from the liver were collected, fixed in 10% formalin, and then embedded in paraffin blocks. Proteins Hsp70 and p-53 were detected on slides using the standard three step immunohistochemical method. The quantitative evaluation of Hsp70 and p-53 expression showed that the area of positive staining in the liver of the experimental rats (Hsp70 305,763.00 μm² +/-58,289.66, p-53 9,551.42 μm² +/-1,078.86) was comparable to that in the control groups (Hsp70 291,636.80 μm² +/-34,492.31, p-53 14,104.67 μm² +/-3,571.35). Our experiment showed, that L-arginine as a precursor of exogenous nitric oxide given to rats in dose similar to that used in pregnant women treated for hypertension did not exhibit an influence on hepatocytes.