Ischemia-reperfusion Injury after Canine Liver Allo-transplantation: The Effect of Gadolinium Chloride

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The effective suppression of Kupffer cell function is believed to contribute to the prevention of preservation/ reperfusion injury. In this study, the effect of Gadolinium, a synthetic Kupffer cell suppressor, on the reperfusion injury was examined using a canine partial liver transplant model. METHODS: About 70% of the liver was harvested and reimplanted in a mongrel recipient dog weighing 20~25 kg. Gadolinium Chloride (10 mg/kg) was infused via the cephalic vein 24 hour before harvesting the partial liver (Gadolinium group, n=5). Serum Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and morphological grading of the graft were compared with the control group (n=5). Statistical analysis was done with an independent T-test. RESULTS: The total ischemic time was 4 hours and 27 minutes on average. One hour after reperfusion, there were no significant differences in the AST, ALP and LDH level, and the pathologic scores. At 48 hours after reperfusion, the AST (P=0.03) and LDH (P=0.05) levels were significantly lower in Gadolinium group. CONCLUSION: Kupffer cell blockage using the Gadolinium chloride might be an effective way of reducing ischemia reperfusion injury. However, this effect was not evident in the early stages of reperfusion.