Table 2.

Comparison of Biochemical and Histopathological Measurements among 6 Groups.

Parameters	Sham+NS	Sham+IBU	BDL+NS	BDL+HD+NS	BDL+IBU	BDL+HD+IBU	F	P
Plasma ammonia (μmol/L)	78.0±14.3cc dd ee	77.1±15.3cc dd ee	137.7±24.0aa bb c d	199.4±41.8aa bb	149.4±8.8aa bb d	202.5±33.1aa bb e	30.64	<0.001***
ALT (KarU)	6.4±0.7cc dd ee	6.9±1.4cc dd ee	12.5±3.7aa bb	13.5±3.3aa bb	13.2±4.6aa bb	12.9±3.1aa bb	7.39	<0.001***
AST (KarU)	15.0±3.5cc dd e	16.9±5.7cc dd	28.7±6.8aa b	36.5±15.8aa bb	27.9±4.2a	37.9±7.4aa bb	6.76	<0.001***
Total protein (g/L)	33.4±3.7cc dd ee	35.7±5.6cc dd ee	22.1±3.1aa bb	24.5±1.9aa bb	24.5±2.8aa bb	22.5±4.1aa bb	16.78	<0.001***
Bilirubin (μmol/L)	8.1±1.1e	5.0±2.1c d ee	19.5±3.9b	26.6±11.0b	23.2±5.6a bb	20.0±5.7b	11.93	<0.001***
IL-1β (pg/ml)	894.3±25.4	829.1±132.3	1135.9±264.8	1255.3±365.6	930.8±122.7	979.4±253.1	1.68	0.184
IL-6 (pg/ml)	48.1±1.8cc	44.9±3.0cc	51.1±2.2bb e	54.1±4.3aa bb dd ee	46.1±2.7cc	47.9±1.1cc	6.27	0.002**
TNF-α (pg/ml)	95.1±14.1c	91.6±17.6cc	116.7±14.8	132.4±24.6a bb e d	99.8±11.0c	99.0±13.9c	3.26	0.032*
No. of microglia (cells/mm2) &	12.5±2.7cc	11.5±3.1cc	18.1±4.1aa bb dd ee	19.6±4.6aa bb dd ee	12.3±2.5cc	11.8±3.7cc	20.45	<0.001***

Note: Values are the mean ± standard deviation from at least 4 rats per group.

BDL, bile duct ligation; HD, hyperammonemic diet; NS, normal saline; IBU, ibuprofen; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate transaminase; IL, interleukin; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha.

^* P<0.05, ^** P<0.01, and ^*** P<0.001 were regarded as statistically significant. Values significantly different from Sham+NS rats are indicated by 'a', from Sham+IBU rats by 'b', from BDL+HD+NS rats by 'c', from BDL+HD+IBU rats by 'd', and from BDL+IBU rats by 'e'. ^a P<0.05; ^aa P<0.01; ^b P<0.05; ^bb P<0.01; ^c P<0.05; ^cc P<0.01; ^d P<0.05; ^dd P<0.01; ^e P<0.05; ^ee P<0.01.

&, CD11b-positive microglia cells were counted in the basal ganglia.