Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on cold storage of the liver in rats

The depletion of biochemical energy stores during prolonged cold storage is one of the most critical events of cold ischemia-reperfusion (CI/R) injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment on CI/R injury.

Livers were harvested from male Wistar rats and stored for 24 h at 4 degrees C in University of Wisconsin solution (Group 1). Others were additionally treated with HBO during the preservation period (Group 2). At the end of the 24 h cold preservation, the concentrations of hepatic enzymes and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the effluent and the hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were measured. After preservation, the livers were reperfused for 90 min with an oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer. Perfusate samples were obtained serially, and portal flow rates were also recorded.

In group 2, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and LPO into the effluent at the end of preservation were decreased and the depletion of ATP was prevented (P<0.05). After reperfusion, the portal flow was significantly improved in group 2 (P<0.05). The time-dependent increase of alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT) observed in group 1 was suppressed significantly in group 2, and total bile production during 90 min of reperfusion was significantly greater in group 2 (P<0.05). The structure of the livers in group 2 was significantly well maintained, and the liver weight change ratio was significantly greater in group 1 (P<0.05).

HBO treatment during cold storage seems to prevent hepatic ischemic injury and have protective effects against CI/R injury by attenuating the depletion of energy stores.