Effect of hydrogen-rich lactated Ringer' s solution on liver cold ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of hydrogen-rich lactated Ringer's solution (LR) on liver cold ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods Twenty-four healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),group RL and hydrogen-rich LR group (group HRL).Group S only underwent laparotomy.In groups RL and HRL,hepatic I/R was produced by occluding portal vein and hepatic artery followed by perfusion with 4 ℃ LR solution and 4 ℃ hydrogen-rich LR,respectively.The liver cold ischemia time was 20 min.All the rats were sacrificed at 6 h after reperfusion.Blood samples were obtained from the inferior vena cava to detect the levels of serum alanine amino-transferase (ALT),aspartate amino-transferase (AST),tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)and interleukin-6 (IL-6).Hepatic specimens were obtained to detect the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD),expression of activated caspase-3 and percentage of apoptotic cells,and for microscopic examination of the pathological changes of livers.Results Compared with group S,the levels of serum ALT,AST,TNF-α and IL-6,MDA level,expression of activated caspase-3 and percentage of apoptotic cells were significantly increased,and the level of SOD was decreased in RL and HRL groups (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Compared with group RL,the levels of serum ALT,AST,TNF-α and IL-6,MDA level,expression of activated caspase-3 and percentage of apoptotic cells were significantly decreased,and the level of SOD was increased in group HRL (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).The pathological changes of livers were significantly ameliorated in group HRL as compared with group RL.Conclusion Hydrogen-rich LR can attenuate liver cold I/R injury in rats. Key words: Hydrogen ; Reperfusion injury ; Liver