Investigation of the effect of safranal and crocin pre-treatment on hepatic injury induced by infrarenal aortic occlusion.

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury of the liver is an unresolved problem that occurs during certain surgical approaches, including hepatic, cardiac and aortic operations. In this study we aimed to investigate whether crocin and safranal had protective effects on liver IR injury induced in an infrarenal aortic clamping (IRAC) model. Male Wistar-Albino rats (n=32) were divided into four groups with 8 animals each as follows: Sham, IR, IR+crocin, and IR+safranal. The infrarenal aorta (IRA) was clamped for 60min for the ischemic period and allowed to reperfuse for 120min. Blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical, histological and immunohistological analysis. Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were found to be significantly higher in the IR group than the sham group (respectively; p=0.015, p<0.001). There were significant differences between the IR group and the IR+crocin group or the IR+safranal group in AST levels (respectively; p=0.02, p<0.001). ALT showed a significant decrease in the IR+crocin group compared to the IR group (p<0.05). We also observed histopathological changes among the groups. Bax and Caspase-3 expression in the IR group was remarkably higher than in the other groups. Caspase-3 and Bax expression in the IR+crocin and the IR+safranal groups were significantly lower than in the IR group. Nevertheless, there were no significant differences in BCL2 expression among the groups. IRAC is a cause of IR injury in the liver. This study showed that crocin and safranal have protective effects on IR induced liver injury.

The protective effect of melatonin on remote organ liver ischemia and reperfusion injury following aortic clamping.

BACKGROUND: Severe local and systemic tissue injuries can occur after restoration of tissue oxygenation which is also known as reperfusion injury. Our objective was to investigate the possible protective effects of melatonin against IR damage in hepatic tissue following infrarenal aortic occlusion. METHODS: A total of twenty-one male Wistar-albino rats separated into three groups as follows: Group I: Laparotomy and dissection of the infrarenal abdominal aorta (AA) were concurrently performed. Group II: About 1 ml of 0.9% saline was intraperitoenally administered 30 min before and after the occlusion operation. After laparotomy and dissection, infrarenal AA was clamped for 30 minutes and then was exposed to two hours of reperfusion. Group III: The melatonin was administered 30 min before clamping of the infrarenal AA then 30 min of ischemia and two hours of reperfusion was applied. RESULTS: Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels were remarkably higher in IR group, when compared with the sham group, and the laboratory tests returned to normal levels in IR+MEL group after treatment. Although serum IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-18, TNF-α, and IFN- γ levels have decreased in treatment group following melatonin administration, this decrement was statistically significant for serum IL-18, TNF-α, and IFN- γ parameters compared with the IR group. Serum levels of TOC and OSI were decreased and tissue levels of TAC were increased by melatonin. CONCLUSION: As a result of this study, it can be suggested that melatonin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects in case of IR. KEY WORDS: Aortic occlusion, Injury, Ischemia/Reperfusion, Liver, Melatonin.