Betaine Treatment Attenuates Chronic Ethanol-Induced Hepatic Steatosis and Alterations to the Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Proteome
Figure 4
Betaine attenuates chronic ethanol-induced increase hepatic NOS2 gene and protein expression and elevates mitochondrial nitrite/nitrate levels. (a) Liver NOS2 mRNA levels were measured by quantitative PCR using the comparative Ct concentration method. The data shown are mean ± SEM of eight determinations from each group. Values not sharing a common subscript letter are statistically different, . (b) Hepatic NOS2 (130 kDa) protein expression was measured by immunoblotting and normalized to β-actin (45 kDa). Representative immunoblots of NOS2 protein for one pair of untreated and one pair of betaine-treated control and ethanol animals is shown. The bar graph results below represent the mean volume integration units (V.I.U) of NOS2 ± S.E.M. for animals per group. Values not sharing a common letter are statistically different, . (c) Total mitochondrial nitrite and nitrate levels were measured by the Griess reaction as detailed [26]. The bar graph results represent the mean ± S.E.M. for animals per group. Values not sharing a common letter are statistically different, .
