[Hepatocellular glycogen alleviates hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury and its relationship to ICAM-1 gene expression].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate if higher hepatocellular glycogen contents can alleviate hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury and its relationship to ICAM-1 gene expression in hepatic sinusoidal cells (HSCs).


METHODS
Twenty-one rabbits fed with a standard diet were randomly divided into three groups (n=7 in each). All the animals were subjected to hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury then sacrificed. Before the injury, group A rabbits fasted for 24 hours; group C rabbits had 6 intravenous glucose solution (25%, 20 ml) injections, 4 hours between two injections. Hepatic enzymological changes, hepatic ICAM-1 mRNA expressions and leukocytic counts in the sinusoids were observed.


RESULTS
The liver glycogen contents of the three groups were significantly different. Livers of group A had higher contents of glycogen (9.85+/-0.91 mg/g. wet tissue); in group B they were 38.93+/-5.72; and in group C they were 48.31+/-6.58. Group C animals had the slightest liver function damage. There were no differences in the pre- and post-ischemic ICAM-1 mRNA contents in the three groups. However, livers with a higher content of glycogen showed less expression of ICAM-1 mRNA (group A: 1.398+/-0.365 ng/mg wet tissue; group B: 0.852+/-0.297; group C: 0.366+/-0.183) and lower leukocytic counts. The relationship analysis showed a negative relationship between hepatocellular glycogen and hepatic ICAM-1 mRNA contents (r= -0.965, P less than 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatocellular glycogen is important in protecting liver ischemic reperfusion injury. Also hepatocellular glycogen decreases the expression of ICAM-1 mRNA of HSCs.
Tang
Li-jun
LJ
Center of General Surgery of PLA, PLA Chengdu General Hospital, Chengdu 610083, China.
Tian
Fu-zhou
FZ
Wang
Tao
T
Cui
Jian-feng
JF
Luo
Hao
H
Li
Dong-xuan
DX
Shi
Li
L
Chen
Tao
T
Zou
Shu
S
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006003:Glycogen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D006003:Glycogen