Combined use of adenosine and amrinone inhibits reperfusion injury of rat liver

Abstract

Although intraportal infusion of adenosine suppressed the oxidative stress caused by activated neutrophils and attenuated ischemia-reperfusion injury of canine liver, high doses of adenosine elicit systemic hypotension. The present work demonstrates that combined use of low doses of adenosine and amrinone, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, strongly inhibited reperfusion injury of the liver without eliciting hypotension. After 45 min ischemia followed by 60 min reperfusion of rat liver, low doses of adenosine and amrinone were administrated intraportally, resulting in significantly increased hepatic levels of cGMP, cAMP, nitrite plus nitrate in plasma, and decreased alanine aminotransferase in plasma without changing hemodynamics. Thus, intraportal administration of low doses of adenosine and amrinone increased the cyclic nucleotides, thereby improved microcirculation and attenuated reperfusion injury of the liver.