title: [Effects of microcystins on expression of apoptosis-associated hepatocyte genes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To deeply explore the effects of microcystins (MC-LR) on Bax and Bcl-2 during the course of MC-LR promoting liver tumor.
  
  
  METHODS
  applied to set up the animal model, and the effect of MC-LR promoting liver tumor was evaluated by the Albertgamma-GT methods. And then, the immunohistochemical technique, RT-PCR and image analysis were used to study the expression of the Bcl-2 and Bax during the course of promoting tumor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) MC-LR might enhance the positive reaction rate of GGT. The positive reaction rate of GGT in DEN + pure toxin group was 100%, it was significantly higher than the DEN control group 22.22% (P < 0.05). (2) The intension and areas of the protein expression of Bcl-2 in DEN + pure toxin group were 0.0977 and 0.0315, and in DEN control group were 0.0460 and 0.0205, respectively. The expression level of Bcl-2 protein in DEN + pure toxin group were significantly higher than in DEN control group (P < 0.05). Simultaneously, the protein expression of Bax was significantly decreased by MC-LR (P < 0.05). The intension and areas of the expression of Bax in DEN + pure toxin group were 0.0283 and 0.0073, and in DEN control group were 0.0655 and 0.0244 respectively. (3) The mRNA expression of Bcl-2 was significantly increased by MC-LR. The intension of Bcl-2 mRNA expression in DEN + pure toxin group was 2.244, being significantly higher than in the other groups (P < 0.05). However, the mRNA expression of Bax showed no significant difference between DEN + pure toxin and the other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression change of Bcl-2 and Bax should possibly play an important role in the course of MC-LR promoting liver tumor.
authors.affiliation: Public Health School, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Jian
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chun-Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Qi-Ying
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Lian-Hui
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D052998:Microcystins / Q000633:toxicity*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D052998:Microcystins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein