[Protective effect of ischemic postconditioning on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of ischemic postconditioning (IPC) against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Twenty-four normal male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, ischemia-reperfusion group (IR) and IPC group, and in the latter two groups, the rats were subjected to acute hepatic ischemia-reperfusion. IPC was achieved by several brief pre-reperfusion and withdrawn before persistent reperfusion. The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of several antioxidant enzymes in the hepatic tissue were measured. The cell apoptosis was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and the expression of Bcl-2 protein measured by immunohistochemistry. The mitochondrial ultrastructural and morphological changes of the hepatic cells were observed by electron microscopy. RESULTS: Compared with IR group, IPC group showed significantly reduced concentration of MDA and the hepatocellular apoptotic index (P<0.05) with markedly enhanced activity of the antioxidant enzymes and Bcl-2 protein expression (P<0.05).The mitochondrial ultrastructural damage was also relieved obviously in IPC group. CONCLUSION: IPC can reduce the hepatocellular apoptosis after reperfusion and offers protection against hepatic IR injury.