Amelioration of hepatic ischemic injury

ABSTRACT

The present study was performed to examine the efficacy of some pharmacological agents in ameliorating the injury associated with experimental hepatic ischemia and reperfusion [1/R] in rats. Animals were subjected to a two-thirds hepatectomny following a 60-minute period of ischemia of the unresected liver. Subsequent survival of the animals is dependent upon a regenerative response within the unresected previously ischemic hepatic tissue. Control animals were given 0.5 ml of saline solution and all died within 72 hours. Protection against fatal injury [80% 10-day survival] [P<0.01] was achieved with a combination of 12.5 micro mol adenosine triphosphate-magnesium chloride [ATP-MgCL[2]] and 600 U superoxide dismutase [SOD] in 0.5 ml of saline administered intravenously 30 minutes before hepatic reperfusion. The improved survival was reflected by a significant reduction [P<0.05] in the serum levels of alanine aminotransaminase [ALT] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] postoperatively. Based on these data, it can be concluded that a combination of ATP and SOD ameliorates the hepatic injury associated with I/R, reduces hepatic necrosis and cytosolic enzyme loss, and allows the liver to recover and regenerate. From a clinical point of view, such actions would be likely to protect the liver during I/R injury experienced during hepatic resection and liver ransplantation and to enhance graft function after implantation