Protective effect of reduced glutathione and venous systemic oxygen persufflation on rat steatotic graft following liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study is to explore the protective effect of high-dose reduced glutathione (GSH) preconditioning and venous systemic oxygen persufflation (VSOP) on rat steatotic liver grafts following transplantation.


METHODS
Steatotic liver model was established by feeding rats a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet, and infusing stomach with 50% alcohol (1 mL/100g body weight/d) for 6 wk. In the pretreated group, short-term and high-dose of GSH administration and VSOP were performed. In rat orthotopic liver transplantation model, the recipient survival, liver function, hepatic microcirculation blood flow, hepatic redox, hepatocytes apoptosis and necrosis, and hepatic ultrastructure alteration were observed.


RESULTS
In the pretreated rat steatotic grafts, hepatic GSH (from 29.43 +/- 4.83 to 41.56 +/- 8.51mg/mgprot), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (from 48.32 +/- 6.27 to 67.74 +/- 7.68 NU/mgprot), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (from 1.61 +/- 0.20 to 2.28 +/- 0.09 micromoles/g) were significantly increased (P < 0.05), whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly decreased (from 7.20 +/- 2.18 to 4.63 +/- 0.58 nmol/mgprot, P < 0.05). The hepatocyte necrosis of fatty liver graft was significantly reduced in the pretreated group when compared with non-treated fatty ones (37.71% +/- 9.69% versus 16.63% +/- 5.53%; t = 3.777, P = 0.014), and significantly improved liver function and hepatic ultrastructure were observed in the pretreated fatty liver group after operation. The animal survival after transplanted with fatty liver was significantly improved (chi(2) = 4.07, P = 0.0436).


CONCLUSIONS
A short course pretreatment with high-dose GSH and oxygen persufflation during cold preservation effectively protect steatotic liver grafts from ischemic damage and significantly improve early survival rate in a rat fatty liver transplantation model.
Ye
Sheng
S
Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China. doctor_yesheng@yahoo.com.cn
Dong
Jiahong
J
Han
Benli
B
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019194:Ischemic Preconditioning; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008102:Liver Circulation; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015996:Survival Rate; D014680:Veins
D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione; D010100:Oxygen