Fig. 4

Representative images of hematoxylin and eosin-stained mouse frontoparietal brain specimens and immunohistochemical detection of Rhcg. (× 200 original magnification). a Hydropic degeneration and edema of cortical neurons was observed 12 h post LPS/D-GalN and TNF-α/D-GalN injection; this was accompanied by a larger cell size and diffuse and pale cytoplasm (arrows). There were no obvious changes in other controls, including the anti-TNF-α + LPS/D-GalN group. b, c Immunohistochemical analysis detected strong Rhcg expression in brain tissues in the LPS/D-GalN- and TNF-α/D-GalN-induced ALF groups. Treatment with anti-TNF-α–IgG antibodies reduced Rhcg expression in the LPS/D-GalN group. Scale bar 100 μm. Data represent means ± SEM (n = 5 per group). **P < 0.01 vs. N.S. group, #P < 0.01 vs. D-GalN+LPS 12 h group. N.S. normal saline, D-GalN d-galactosamine hydrochloride, LPS lipopolysaccharide, TNF-α tumor necrosis factor-alpha