Protective effect of edaravone against reperfusion injury in small-for-size rat liver graft

Objective To investigate the protective effect of edaravone against reperfusion injury in small-for-size rat liver grafts and its possible mechanisms.Methods After established the 40% small-for-size rat liver transplantation models,32 adult male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups of saline control(group C)and edaravone treatment(group ED).Serum hepatic function(AST and ALT)was detected.Histopathological changes and the content of MDA,SOD and apoptotic cells in liver grafts were analyzed at 6 h after reperfusion.Results Compared with group C,serum AST and ALT levels were significantly lower at 6h after reperfusion in group ED[(1188.03±124.04)U/L vs.(825.50±72.87)U/L and(988.66±91.07)U/L vs.(687.40±72.21)U/L](P0.01).Histopathological analysis showed disruption of lobular architecture,apparent hepatocelluar degeneration accompanied by focal necrosis,marked edema,congestion and inflammatory cell infiltration in periportal area at 6h after reperfusion in group C.Whereas minimal liver damage was observed in group ED.The content of MDA decreased and SOD level increased in group ED [(1.83±0.32)nmol/mg prot vs.(1.08±0.21)nmol/mg prot and(384.58±23.64)U/mg prot vs.(551.71±62.06)U/mg prot](P0.01).Compared with group C,apoptotic index of hepatocytes at 6h after reperfusion was significantly decreased in group ED(19.14±3.24 vs.9.33±1.82)(P0.01).Conclusion Edaravone has protective effects on reperfusion injury in small-for-size rat liver grafts,which might be mediated in part by increasing antioxidant ability,inhibiting lipid peroxidation,prohibiting hepatocytes apoptosis.