Hepatic oxidant and antioxidant systems in portacaval-shunted rats

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of chronic portal diversion on antioxidant levels in the rat liver. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 32) were used for these studies. An end-to-side portacaval anastomosis was constructed in 17 of the rats. Sham-operated rats (n = 15) served as controls. Two weeks later, hepatic blood flow was measured by the radioactive microsphere technique and the liver was harvested for biochemical measurement of catalase, manganese superoxide dismutase, copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, selenium glutathione peroxidase, xanthine oxidase, xanthine dehydrogenase and reduced glutathione (acid soluble sulfhydryls). Total hepatic blood flow was approx. 40% lower in portacaval-shunted rats when compared to sham-operated control rats. Total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and xanthine dehydrogenase (XD) levels were significantly reduced in the liver of shunted rats when compared to controls. Xanthine oxidase activity was unaltered. The decreased superoxide dismutase levels were exclusively due to reductions in the cytosolic Ca/Zn SOD; Mn SOD levels were unaltered. These data are consistent with oxidant stress and suggest that the liver of subjects with conditions characterized by decreased portal blood flow may be more susceptible to oxidant-induced liver injury.