Protective effects of propofol on mitochondria of liver cells against ischemia-reperfusion injury in dogs

Objective To investigate the protective effects of propofol on mitochondria of liver cells against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.Methods Twenty healthy adult mongrel dogs of either sex weighing 10-15 kg were randomly divided into 4 groups ( n = 5 each): groupⅠsham operation (S); groupⅡI/R; groupⅢsmall dose propofol + I/R (P1) and groupⅣlarge dose propofol + I/R (P2). The animals were premedicated with intramuscular ketamine, diazepam and atropine and anesthetized with intravenous pentobarbital in groupⅠandⅡor propofol by TCI in groupⅢandⅣ(target plasma concentration 6 and 12μg·ml-1) . Anesthesia was supplemented withⅣketamine 5 mg·kg-1 in groupⅢ. Ischemia of liver was produced by reversible occlusion of hepatic blood flow at 30 min of pentobarbital/propofol anesthesia and maintained for 30 min. The occlusion was then removed for reperfusion. Blood samples and liver specimen were obtained immediately before ischemia (T1), 30 min after liver blood flow was occluded ( T2) and at 60 min of reperfusion (T3) for determination of plasma alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino-transferase (AST) activities and mitochondrial Na+-K+-ATPase activity and microscopic examination of ultrastructure of mitochondria. Results Liver I/R significantly increased plasma ALT and AST activities and decreased mitochondrial Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity and caused damage to mitochondria. Propofol pretreatment significantly attenuated the I/R-induced changes mentioned above in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion Propofol pretreatment can protect mitochondria against hepatic I/R injury.