Hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury in rats effect of dexmedetomidine

Aim: The IR injury of liver may cause a series of damage to hepatic tissue and cells. It is one of the factors which can affect the prognosis of the patients and the success of the operation. The IR injury of liver is a frequent cause of poor graft function in the postoperative period. The mechanism of the ischemia-reperfusion injury has not been fully explained; however, the evidence shows that free oxygen radicals have the key role in the injury.Dexmedetomidine is a very strong and a highly selective ?2 receptor agonist. Its effects against the reperfusion injury have not known despite increasing clinical use of this agent.The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of dexmedetomidine against oxidative injury resulted from liver IR in rats.Materials and Methods: 40 Sprague-Dawley young, male rats weighing between 250 and 350 g were randomly separated into four groups, including 10 in the each group.Group 1: The abdomen was opened but hepatic portal occlusion wasn?t applied.Group 2: After the abdomen was opened, 60 minutes ischemia and 60 minutes reperfusion were applied through segmental hepatic ischemia model.Group 3: 30 minutes before the ischemia, dexmedetomidine 10 µg/kg was applied into peritoneal cavity.Group 4: 30 minutes before the ischemia, dexmedetomidine 100 µg/kg was applied into peritoneal cavity.After the experiment was completed, the rats were sacrificed by making them bleed. The extracted livers were kept in the deep-freezer in -80 ?C by wrapping them in an aluminum foil.Results: Tissue MDA level was significantly high in Group 2 than Group 1 (p<0.05). The decrease in Groups 3 and 4 was significant than Group 2 (p<0.05).Tissue SOD and KAT levels was detected low in Group 2 than Group 1 (p<0.05). There was a significant increase in Group 4 than Group 2 (p<0.05).The GSH level in the liver tissue was significantly lower in Group 2 than when compared with Group 1 (p<0.05). There was a significant increase in GSH levels in Groups 3 and 4 than Group 2 (p<0.05).Tissue GSH-Px level was detected significantly low in Groups 2 and 3 when compared with Group 1 (p<0.05). There was a significant difference between Group 3 and 4 in the terms of GSH-Px activity (p<0.05).Conclusion: In the liver ischemia reperfusion model carried out in the rats, it was concluded that dexmedetomidine was decreased the liver oxidation depending on the dose. The results of this study indicate the potential role of the dexmedetomidine in the protection of reperfusion damage of the liver ischemia and this must be supported by means of detailed experimental and clinical studies.