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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
A Standardized Method for the Analysis of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells and Their Fenestrations by Scanning Electron Microscopy
Published on: April 30, 2015
Possible protection of sinusoidal endothelial cells by endothelin B receptor during hepatic warm ischemia-reperfusion
Kyoko Mochizuki1, Yasuharu Ohno, Takashi Kanematsu
1Department of Transplantation and Digestive Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8501, Japan.
Purpose:
Endothelins (ETs) are important regulators of the hepatic microcirculation. We investigated the pure biological roles of endothelin B receptors (ETB-Rs) on hepatic warm ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury using ETB-R deficient spotting lethal (sl) rats.
Methods:
Homozygous (sl/sl) and wild-type (+/+) rats were exposed to 60 min of 92% partial hepatic ischemia and then were killed at 2, 6, and 24 h, and 3 and 7 days after reperfusion. We measured the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels to assess hepatocyte injury, and the serum hyaluronic acid (HA) levels and factor VIII-related antigen (FVIIIRAg) staining to assess sinusoidal endothelial cell (SEC) injury. We also measured the concentrations of ET-1 and nitrite (NO2-) and nitrate (NO3-) of liver tissue samples.
Results:
Although no significant difference was observed in the ALT levels, the HA levels were significantly elevated at an early stage after reperfusion in the sl/sl rats. Regarding FVIIIRAg staining, positive SECs were enhanced in the sl/sl rats. The ET-1 levels were also significantly elevated at an early stage after reperfusion in the sl/sl rats. Regarding the NO2- and NO3- levels, no significant difference was observed.
Conclusion:
Endothelin B receptor was shown to have a protective effect on SECs through the inhibition of ET-1 during hepatic warm I/R injury.
