title: Effects of the free radical scavenger dimethyl sulphoxide on experimental normothermic ischaemia of the liver.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the effects of intermittent or continuous hepatic ischaemia and reperfusion with or without dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) pre-treatment in a rat ischaemic model.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eighty rats were divided into three groups undergoing hepatic ischaemia of a total duration of 60, 90 and 120 min. Each group of rats was subdivided to receive either a continuous Pringle manoeuvre or intermittent liver pedicle clamping of 30 or 15 min. Ten minutes before ischaemia induction, 10 rats from each group were pre-treated with DMSO (500 mg/kg, b.w.) intravenously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With continuous hepatic pedicle clamping, survival rates inversely correlated with the duration of ischaemia, with greater survival in the intermittently clamped groups (p < 0.05). DMSO pre-treatment did not affect survival but resulted in a significant reduction in liver enzyme (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase) release on the first postoperative day following total ischaemic times of 90 min or greater (p < 0.05). After 120 min of total ischaemia, DMSO pre-treatment resulted in higher preservation of adenosine 5'-triphosphate liver content (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DMSO may be used to prolong tolerance to inflow occlusion and to limit the adverse effects of ischaemia and reperfusion cycles in an experimental hepatic ischaemia model.
authors.affiliation: European Institute of Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. antoni.chiappa@unimi.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiappa
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makuuchi
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Zbar
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biella
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellomi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biffi
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertani
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vezzoni
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crosta
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andreoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide