Role of GSK-3.BETA. in the protective effect of propofol pretreatment against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury and oxidative stress in rats

Abstract

Objective To investigate the protective effect of propofol pretreatment against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury and oxidative stress in rats and the mechanism of the role of GSK-3β. Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group (S group), ischemia-reperfusion group (I-R group), propofol pretreatment group (P group), TDZD-8 pretreatment group (T group). The hepatic ischemia-reperfusion rat models were established by the method of Nauta. Rats were subjected to 30-min, 60-min and 90-min 70% warm ischemia of liver followed by reperfusion for 120 min, respectively. Propofol (12 mg/kg·h) was injected via femoral vein 30 min before ischemia till the end of reperfusion in P group and TDZD-8 (1 mg/ kg) were injected via femoral vein 20 min before ischemia in T group. The animals were killed at 120 min after reperfusion. Blood samples and the liver tissue were obtained. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were analyzed. Liver morphological changes were observed using optical microscopy. p-GSK-3β Ser9 and total GSK-3β expression was determined by Western blot. Results Compared with S group, AST, ALT, LDH and MDA level was increased, SOD level was reduced, and p-GSK-3β Ser9 expression was significantly reduced in I-R group. Compared with I-R group, the content of AST, ALT, LDH and MDA was reduced significantly, SOD increased significantly, and the content of p-GSK-3β Ser9 increased significantly in P group and T group. There were no significant differences between P group and T group. The hematoxylin-eosin staining of hepatic tissues revealed in I-R group had severe structural damage and periportal inflammatory cells infiltrated, hepatocyte necrosis and sinusoidal congestion. In P group and T group, liver tissues had normal structure, less cell death, edema and inflammatory cell infiltration. Conclusions Propofol can significantly reduce hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury by reducing oxidative stress and lipid hydroperoxides. This protective effect of Propofol may be associated with the inhibition of GSK-3β by GSK-3β Ser9 phosphorylation. Key words: Propofol; Oxidative stress; Liver; Ischemia-reperfusion injury; Rat