title: Protective effect of prednisolone on ischemia-induced liver injury in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of prednisolone on cell membrane bleb formation, calpain mu activation and talin degradation during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hilar area of the left lateral and median lobes of rat liver (68%) was clamped for 60 min and followed by 120 min reperfusion. Prednisolone was administered at 1.0, 3.0, or 10 mg/kg at 30 min before ischemia. In addition to biochemical and microscopic analyses, activation of calpain micro was determined using specific antibodies against the intermediate (activated) form of calpain mu. Degradation of talin was also studied by Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the control and prednisolone (1.0 mg/kg) groups, serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) level were elevated, and cell membrane bleb formation was observed after 120 min of reperfusion. Moreover, calpain mu activation and talin degradation were detected. Infusion of prednisolone at 3.0 or 10 mg/kg significantly suppressed serum AST and ALT, and prevented cell membrane bleb formation. At 10 mg/kg, prednisolone markedly suppressed calpain mu activation and talin degradation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prednisolone can suppress ischemia-reperfusion injury of the rat liver. Its cytoprotective effect is closely associated with the suppression of calpain mu activation and talin degradation.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 225 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China. drwangm@163.com
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Le-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Xi-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Meng-Chao
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D002154:Calpain / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D007511:Ischemia; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury; D016608:Talin / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016608:Talin; D011239:Prednisolone; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D002154:Calpain