Fig. 3.

Hepatic angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene expression (a), ACE-specific radioligand ¹²⁵I-MK351A binding (b) and ACE activity (c) in sham-operated control (open bars) and bile duct ligated (BDL) (filled bars) rats. QPCR derived ACE gene expression values were normalized to ribosomal 18S and the shams were given a value of 1 at each time point. ACE binding density was determined by computerised densitometry. ACE activity was determined by measuring nmol of ACE substrate (Hippuryl-His-Leu) cleaved by solubilized membrane fractions. Each bar represents the mean ± SEM expression, staining and activity from 8 to 10 rats (a), from 4 to 5 rats (b) and from 7 to 8 rats (c), respectively, per treatment group. ^∗∗∗∗P < 0.0005, ^∗∗∗P < 0.001, ^aP < 0.06, BDL vs. sham.