The effect of nitric oxide/endothelins system on the hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury

Abstract

The relationship between the hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the balance of nitric oxide/endothelins (NO/ET) was studied. The changes of the ratio of NO/ET and the hepatic injury were observed in a rat hepatic I/R model pretreated with several tool drugs. In the acute phase of hepatic I/R injury, the ratio of plasma NO/ET was reduced from 1.58±0.20 to 0.29±0.05 (P<0.01) and the hepatic damage deteriorated. NO donor L-Arg and ET receptor antagonist TAK-044 could alleviate the hepatic I/R injury to some degree, whereas NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME aggravated the damage. It was concluded that the hepatic I/R injury might be related with the disturbance of the NO/ET balance. Regulation of this balance might have an effect on the I/R injury.

Keywords

hepatic ischemia/reperfusion / nitric oxide / endothelins

References

[1] ShimamuraT, ZhuY, ZhangS, et al.. Protective role of nitric oxide in ischemia and reperfusion injury of the liver. J Am Coll Surg, 1999, 188: 43-43

[2] PannenB H J, AdiliF A, BauerM, et al.. Role of endothelins and nitric oxide in hepatic reperfusion injury in the rat. Hepatology, 1998, 27: 755-755

[3] DharD K, YamanoiA, OhmoriH, et al.. Modulation of endothelin and nitric oxide: a rational approach to improve canine hepatic microcirculation. Hepatology, 1998, 28: 782-782