Second harmonic generation microscopy reveals the spatial orientation of glutamine-potentiated liver regeneration after hepatectomy

Eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice underwent either 70% partial hepatectomy (PHx) or sham surgery in the absence of hepatic resection via midline laparotomy. L-glutamic acid 5-amide (Gln) was obtained from MilliporeSigma, MA, US, and mice were fed 0.6% Gln versus PBS in the drinking water starting at 7 days prior to PHx and another 6 days after Phx. Mice were randomized into four groups: 1) sham with Gln supplementation (sham + Gln), 2) sham without Gln supplementation (sham – Gln), 3) PHx with Gln supplementation (PHx + Gln), and 4) PHx without Gln supplementation (PHx – Gln). Liver samples were prepared for mRNA expression microarray from day 1 to day 7 post-PHx. Briefly, microarray analyses were performed using the SurePrint G3 GeneChip Mouse Gene Express V2 Array Kit (Agilent, Santa Clara, CA, US; Design ID:074809) according to the manufacturer’s protocols.