Isoniazid and Rifampicin Produce Hepatic Fibrosis through an Oxidative Stress-Dependent Mechanism

Figure 5

Long-term INH-RMP treatment increases apoptosis of the hepatocytes in mice. (a) Apoptosis in the liver sections was assessed by TUNEL assay. Eight different fields from each liver section were observed, and the mean value was plotted graphically. (b) Western blot analysis for cytochrome c, Bax, and Bcl2 from liver extracts from INH-RMP-treated mice at the end of 4, 12, and 24 weeks. (c) Caspase 3 activity of liver extract was determined using a fluorometric assay with Ac-DEVD AFC, in control and INH and RMP-treated mice after 4, 12, and 24 weeks. Results are presented as the fold increase from control values. The results of (a) and (c) were expressed as the of 8 mice per group ( versus the vehicle-treated control group; ^# versus INH and RMP-treated mice for 4 weeks; ^‡ versus INH and RMP-treated for 4 and 12 weeks). White bar indicates only vehicle-treated control mice, while black bar indicates INH-RMP-treated mice.

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