Figure 2
From: Exposure to Gulf war illness-related chemicals exacerbates alcohol-induced liver damage in rodents
Exposure of mice to GWI-related chemicals caused chronic low-grade liver damage as detected by serum transaminases and microvesicular steatosis. ALT (A) and AST (B) transaminase levels in serum samples from Naïve and GWI-mice after 4 months of recovery from exposure to PER plus PB, or vehicle. (C) Images of H&E staining of liver sections from Naïve and GWI mice. (D) Images of lipid droplets detected by Oil Red O staining of liver sections, followed by confocal microscopy. (E) Image analysis and quantification of lipid droplets as percentage of stained area, in livers from Naïve and GWI mice. (F) RT-qPCR results for expression of genes associated with lipid droplets, i.e. PLIN1, PLIN2 and PNPLA3 relative to GAPDH. (G) RT-qPCR to test the expression of genes with role in fatty acid oxidation, i.e., ACAD1, CPT1A, CPT2, ACOX1, ACOX2 in livers of Naive and GWI mice. (H) The level of hydrogen peroxide as a marker of reactive oxygen species (ROS), was determined in liver samples of GWI vs Naïve mice. (I) RT-qPCR results for SOD1 gene that encodes for superoxide dismutase, a liver enzyme with role in elimination of ROS. N = 4, p < 0.05. #, GWI vs Naïve mice. Scale bars: 50 µm in (C), and 25 µm in (D).
