title: Danshen protects liver grafts from ischemia/reperfusion injury in experimental liver transplantation in rats.
abstract: Reperfusion injury remains one of the major problems in transplantation. Free radicals and disturbance of microcirculation are the supposed main contributors. Recent evidence shows that Danshen, a traditional Chinese drug used in vascular diseases, can scavenge radicals and improve microcirculation. This study investigates its effect on liver transplantation (LTx). Before organ recovery, female Sprague-Dawley rats (210-240 g) received intravenous Danshen or the same volume of Ringer solution as control. LTx was performed after 1 h of cold storage. Microperfusion, leukocyte-endothelium interaction and latex-bead phagocytosis were evaluated with in vivo microscopy. Survival, transaminases and histology were assessed. Immunohistology was used for TNF-alpha levels. anova and Fisher's exact test were employed for statistical analyses as appropriate. Survival increased from 60% in controls to 100% (P < 0.05). AST and LDH decreased from 3969 +/- 1255 U/l and 15444 +/- 5148 U/l in controls to 1236 +/- 410 U/l and 5039 +/- 1594 U/l, respectively (P < 0.05). In vivo microscopy revealed decreased leukocyte-adherence and increased blood flow velocity in sinusoidal zones after administration of Danshen (P < 0.05), while latex-bead phagocytosis was found in 60% of controls (P < 0.05). The TNF-alpha index decreased from 2.08 +/- 0.09 in controls to 1.09 +/- 0.09 (P < 0.05). This study clearly demonstrates hepatoprotective effects after experimental LTx, which can be explained via anti-oxidative effects, improved microcirculation and decreased Kupffer cell activation.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Liang
authors: Helge
authors: H
authors: Bruns
authors: Marius
authors: M
authors: Kincius
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Lin
authors: Jochen
authors: J
authors: Ludwig
authors: Genevieve
authors: G
authors: Dei-Anane
authors: Xiaohai
authors: X
authors: Guan
authors: Martha-Maria
authors: MM
authors: Gebhard
authors: Markus W
authors: MW
authors: Büchler
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Schemmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D008863:Microspheres; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C028972:dan-shen root extract