Research Paper Volume 13, Issue 17 pp 21155—21190

Liver-specific over-expression of Cripto-1 in transgenic mice promotes hepatocyte proliferation and deregulated expression of hepatocarcinogenesis-related genes and signaling pathways

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Figure 3. CR-1 overexpression enhances hepatocyte proliferation in the liver after 2/3 partial hepatectomy (PHx). (A) Representative images show 5-month old RCLG/Alb-Cre (right) and Alb-Cre (left) mice fed a normal diet. (B) Body weights of 3, 6, and 8 month-old RCLG/Alb-Cre and Alb-Cre mice. (C) Relative liver weights of 3, 6, and 8 month-old RCLG/Alb-Cre and Alb-Cre mice. (D) Representative images show gross morphology of livers from 3, 6, and 8 month-old RCLG/Alb-Cre (right) and Alb-Cre (left) mice. (E) Representative images of H&E-stained liver sections from 3, 6, and 8 month-old Alb-Cre and RCLG/Alb-Cre mice. (F) Representative Ki-67 immunostaining images show proliferation status of hepatocytes from 3, 6, and 8 month-old Alb-Cre and RCLG/Alb-Cre mice. (G) Representative Ki-67 immunostaining images show proliferation of hepatocytes from RCLG/Alb-Cre and Alb-Cre mice at 0, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h after PHx. (H) Quantitative analysis of hepatocyte proliferation based on Ki-67 immunostaining at 0, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h after PHx in RCLG/Alb-Cre (n = 3–5) and Alb-Cre (n = 3–5) mice.