Protective effect of methylprednisolone on warm ischemia-reperfusion injury in a cholestatic rat liver.
BACKGROUND
Cholestasis has been identified as a risk factor for oxidative stress, and it potentially enhances after ischemic-reperfusion injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of methylprednisolone on warm ischemia-reperfusion injury in the presence of cholestasis.


METHODS
A reversible cholestatic rat model was created. After 7 days, rats received 30 mg/kg of intravenous methylprednisolone 2 hours before ischemia, followed by 30 minutes of ischemia. Rats were euthanized 24 hours after ischemia. Serum aspartate aminotransferase and interleukin-6 were measured, and the liver was harvested for histology and myeloperoxidase estimation.


RESULTS
Methylprednisolone had a protective effect, with a statistically significant decrease in aspartate aminotransferase (P=.01) and a trend toward decreased levels of interleukin-6 (P=.07). Histology showed a significant difference in architectural distortion (P=.01), cytoplasmic vacuolation (P=.01), and nodular hepatocellular necrosis (P=.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Methylprednisolone attenuated the ischemic-reperfusion injury in the presence of cholestasis and can be considered for clinical use in the presence of cholestasis.
Department of Surgery, Providence Hospital and Medical Centers, Southfield, MI, USA.
Gokulakkrishna
G
Subhas
Aditya
A
Gupta
Daniel
D
Bakston
Boris
B
Silberberg
Cathy
C
Lobocki
Lee
L
Andrus
Melissa
M
Decker
Vijay K
VK
Mittal
Michael J
MJ
Jacobs
D000818:Animals; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000150:complications*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D052096:Warm Ischemia
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone