title: Protective effect of N2-mercaptopropionylglycine on rats and dogs liver during ischemia/reperfusion process.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  N2-mercaptopropionylglycine is a powerful super oxide synthesis inhibitor and has been tested as a preventive agent of metabolic and structural hepatic damage in the ischemia/reperfusion process.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze some effects of N2-mercaptopropionylglycine administration to animals of two species submitted to normothermic liver ischemia/reperfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two rats and 22 dogs were divided into four groups: group I: rats that received intravenous saline 0.9%; group II: rats that received 100 mg/kg of N2-mercaptopropionylglycine; group III: dogs that received saline intravenous 0.9% and group IV: dogs that received 100 mg/kg N2-mercaptopropionylglycine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten minutes after the saline or drug administration, each group was submitted to left lobe liver ischemia for 25 minutes followed by reperfusion. Biochemical studies 24 hours after reperfusion revealed a significantly lower elevation of transaminases in animals of groups II (AST = 271 +/- 182; ALT = 261 +/- 161 ) and IV (AST = 101 +/- 45; ALT = 123 +/- 89) when compared to the controls group: I (AST = 2144 +/- 966; ALT = 1869 +/- 1040 00) and III (AST = 182 +/- 76.51; ALT = 277 +/- 219), respectively. Histology study demonstrated a significantly minor aggression to animals of groups II and IV when compared to groups I and III, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest a significant release of free radicals of oxygen in the process and that N2-mercaptopropionylglycine may have a significant protective effect on liver parenchyma when submitted to ischemia/reperfusion.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Division, Department of Gastroenterology, University Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emilio Elias
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Abdo
authors.forename: José Eduardo Monteiro
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Pérsio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deluca
authors.forename: Ana Maria Mendonça
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Telesforo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bacchella
authors.forename: Marcel Cerqueira César
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Machado
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects; D004285:Dogs; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008625:Tiopronin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008625:Tiopronin; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase