Role of TNF-α Dependant Hepatocyte Apoptosis in Mouse Liver Injury Induced by Lipopolysaccharide

【Objective】To study the role of TNF-α dependent hepatic apoptosis in mouse liver injury induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS).【Methods】Balb/c mice were sacrificed at the indicated timepoints after intra-peritoneal LPS. The sera were separated to detect alanine transaminase (ALT) activity, the livers were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathologic analyses. Simultaneously.hepatocyte apoptosis was detected by TdT-DIG-dUTP methods. Hepatic TNF-α was detected by immunohistochemical methods.【Results】Hepatocyte apoptosis, hepatic TNF-α expression and ALT activity increased significantly 3~6 hours after i.p LPS, while decreased significantly in the 12h group, and recruited to normal level or relatively lower level in 24 h and 30h group.【Conclusion】TNF-α-dependent hepatocyte apoptosis plays predominant role in mouse liver injury induced by LPS.