Melatonin in the Regulation of Liver Steatosis following Prenatal Glucocorticoid Exposure
Figure 5
The apoptosis and inflammation study. The decreased apoptosis by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) and activated caspase 3 expressions in melatonin group mildly increased in prenatal steroid group more than in control group. (a) The TUNEL stain showed the increased liver cell apoptosis in the prenatal steroid, and the melatonin decreased the apoptosis cells induced by prenatal steroid at 7 days (original magnification ×200, arrows: positive hepatocytes). (b) Semiquantification of the TUNEL stained apoptosis cells. (c) Western blot showed increased TNF-α and activated caspase 3 expression in prenatal steroid group more than in control group and decreased in melatonin group. (d) Semiquantification of the Western blots expressions of TNF-α and activated caspase 3. (e) The activated caspase 3 immunohistochemistry showed increased staining in the prenatal steroid group more than in control group and decreased in the melatonin group (original magnification ×200, arrows: positive hepatocytes). (f) Semiquantification of the activated caspase 3 immunohistochemistry staining. (g) ELISA study showed increased IL-6 and TGF-β levels in the prenatal steroid group more than in the control group and decreased in the melatonin group. when comparing prenatal steroid groups. All the results represent mean ± standard error of six animals. The letters above each represented different groups with DEX representing the prenatal steroid; MEL: melatonin treatment after prenatal steroid.
