Figure 4.

Genetic deletion of RNLS in vivo causes an increase in cerulein-stimulated histological damage in vivo. WT or RNLS KO (renalase^−/−) animals were given six hourly injections of either PBS as a control or cerulein (50 μg/kg) to induce pancreatitis. Tissues were fixed in buffered formalin and stained with H&E. A, WT control. B, WT cerulein. C, RNLS^−/−. D, RNLS^−/− + cerulein. Slides were examined, and sections were randomly photographed at 400×. Slides were scored in a blinded manner for histologic markers of pancreatitis based on previously published criteria (22, 27). Markers examined included edema (E), intracellular vacuoles (F), pyknotic nuclei and apoptotic bodies (G), macrophages (H), and neutrophils (I). *, p < 0.05 compared with analogous WT cerulein. n = 3 for each treatment group. Values represent the mean, and error bars represent the S.E.