Protective Role of Nitric Oxide Induced by Ischemic Preconditioning on Cold Ischemic-Reperfusion Injury of Rat Liver Graft

Aims. To investigate the protective role of nitric oxide (NO) induced by ischemic preconditioning (IP) on cold ischemic-reperfusion (IR) injury of rat liver grafts. Methods. One hundred twenty-eight male Sprague Dawley rats used for orthotopic liver transplantation were randomly divided into four groups (n = 32): administering heparin before ischemic reperfusion (control group); IP with 10-minute ischemia and 10-minute reperfusion before IR (IP group); adenosine before IR (Ade group); and L-NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) + IP before IR (NAME group). Half of each group were used to investigate 1-week recipient survival rate, and another to obtain blood and hepatic tissue samples after 2-hour reperfusion. Results. One-week survival bile production, serum NO, and antioxidase activity were higher but serum alanine aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and superoxide levels in hepatic tissue were lower in the IP group and Ade group versus the control group or NAME group. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells in the JP and Ade groups showed less injury than the other groups. Conclusion. NO induced by JP can improve 1-week survival and rat liver function as well as protect liver sinusoidal endothelial cells.