Abstract: Objective To explore the dynamic expression of ROCK-I, p-MBS Thr-697, α-SMA and their mRNA in the hepatic fibrogenesis and the changes of actin cytoskeleton.Methods ROCK-I, p-MBS Thr-697, protein in the livers were determined by Western blot and their mRNA were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), while the distribution of ROCK-I, α-SMA in the livers were assessed immunohistochemistically. The changes of actin cytoskeleton were studied by fluorescence.Results With the development of hepatic fibrosis, the positive areas in model groups at week 1 to 4 of ROCK-I and α-SMA of the rat livers were larger than that in control group respectively, P<0.05.ROCK-I, p-MBS Thr-697 ,α-SMA protein and mRNA were increased than that in control group respectively. ROCK-I mRNA expression correlated with α-SMA, r=0.718, P<0.05. With the development of liver fibrosis, the images of fluorescence were inhanced.Conclusions With the development of liver fibrosis, both protein and mRNA of ROCK-I were increased.

Key words: hepatic fibrosis, Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase, cytoskeleton