In the NaTc + vehicle-treated group and L-Arg + vehicle-treated group, the protein expression levels of IκBα and IκBβ were markedly reduced; however, the level of nuclear NF-κB p65 was significantly increased at the 3 time points, particularly at the time point of 12 h following the induction of AP. This evidence concerns the gene RELA and alkaline phosphatase measurement.