Detection of posttrauma apoptosis and necrosis of hepatocytes and its significance.
OBJECTIVE
To study the role of apoptosis and necrosis of hepatocytes in the pathogenesis of acute liver dysfunction following severe trauma in rats.


METHODS
Rat models of multiple fractures complicated by shock were established, in which apoptotic and necrotic hepatocytes were detected by flow cytometry (FCM) via double-staining technique of Annexin-V-flous and propidium iodide (PI). Observation of the pathological changes in the hepatocytes was also conducted by means of light and electron microscopy and electronphoresis respectively, and the correlation of these changes with liver function were evaluated.


RESULTS
Hepatocytes underwent both apoptosis and necrosis in rat models of severe trauma. The quantities of necrotic hepatocytes increased progressively in positive correlation with the degree of hepatic injury, reaching the peak at 3 h post trauma. A proportion of the apoptotic cells underwent secondary necrosis, the number of the necrotic cells positively correlated with liver dysfunction deterioration.


CONCLUSIONS
Both necrosis and apoptosis are important factors responsible for liver function damages following severe trauma. Necrosis of hepatic cells directly causes liver function damages that are further aggravated by secondary necrosis among apoptotic hepatocytes.
Guan
Jian
J
Department of Orthopaedics, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Lu
Qi
Q
Jin
Da-Di
DD
Jin
Li-Juan
LJ
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009336:Necrosis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley