title: [Effect of alprostadil on hepatic injury of brain-dead rats and on serum TNF-α and endothelin-1 expression].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of alprostadil lipid microballoons (lipo PGE1) on the function and morphous of livers from brain-dead rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four SD rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups: a control group(Group C),a brain-dead group (Group B) and 2 lipo PGE1 protection groups (Group L1 and Group L2). Brain-dead models were established in Group B,L1 and L2.There was no inflation of Fogarty balloon in Group C, while other operations were the same as Group B. Lipo PGE1 [20 ng/(kg.min) and 40 ng/(kg.min)] was injected via the femoral vein in Group L1 and Group L2 immediately after the establishment of the brain-dead model. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), endothelin (ET)-1, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were detected by radioimmunological analyzer. Liver tissues were observed by HE staining 6 h after the brain death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the time of brain death, the level of ALT, AST, ET-1, and TNF-α in Group B, L1 and L2 was significantly different compared with that in Group C. That in Group L1 and L2 was significantly lower than in Group B(P<0.05). There was no significant difference between Group L1 and L2(P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brain death can cause damage to the liver of rats. Lipo PGE1 can relieve the injury of brain death donors.The protective mechanism of Lipo PGE1 is to decrease the release of serum inflammatory mediators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ouyang
mesh_terms: D000527:Alprostadil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001926:Brain Death / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000527:Alprostadil