The protective effect of alpha-tocopherol and GdCl3 against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the combined effect of alpha-tocopherol and gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) in reducing lipid peroxidation after severe hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury.


METHODS
Sixty male Wistar rats, 200-250 g, were randomly divided into six equal groups. There were two sham operation (SHAM) groups, two untreated IR groups, and two IR groups treated with GdCl3 and alpha-tocopherol (IRGT). After 60 min of total hepatic ischemia and 120 min reperfusion, one of each group was killed, liver samples were taken for malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) analysis and light microscopy examination, and blood samples were analyzed for aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alpha-tocopherol content. The remaining groups were monitored for survival rate determination.


RESULTS
The mean MDA and MPO values in the SHAM, IR, and IRGT groups, respectively, were 1.117, 1.476, and 0.978 nmol/g wet tissue and 1.49, 6.26, and 1.78 (U/g). The mean alpha-tocopherol values in the SHAM, IR, and IRGT groups, respectively, were 10.4, 1.9, and 12 micromol/l. The mean serum AST, ALT, and LDH values were significantly higher in the IR group than in the SHAM group (P < 0.001), and significantly lower in the IRGT group than in the IR group (P < 0.001). Light microscopy examination revealed more severe congestion and vacuolization in the IR group than in the SHAM group, and minimal congestion and vacuolization in the IRGT group. Survival was significantly higher in the IRGT group than in the IR group.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of GdCl3 and alpha-tocopherol is likely to protect the liver against lipid peroxidation by suppressing Kupffer cell and polymorphonuclear leukocyte activation and enhancing endogenous antioxidant activity.
Giakoustidis
Dimitrios
D
Department of Transplantation Surgery, Medical School, Aristotle University, Hippokration Hospital, Konstantinoupoleos 49, 54642, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Papageorgiou
George
G
Iliadis
Stavros
S
Giakoustidis
Alexandros
A
Kostopoulou
Evanthia
E
Kontos
Nickolas
N
Botsoglou
Evropi
E
Tsantilas
Dimitrios
D
Papanikolaou
Vasilios
V
Takoudas
Dimitrios
D
D000818:Animals; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology*
D020011:Protective Agents; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005682:Gadolinium; D009195:Peroxidase; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; C038958:gadolinium chloride