[Patterns of hepatic cells death during hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in cirrhotic rats]

To research on the main pattern of hepatic cells death during hepatic ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R) injury in cirrhotic rat.

Cirrhotic rat model was established by carbon tetrachloride replication. These rats were randomly divided into sham operation group and I/R group. In the I/R group, 70% i/R injury model was established and then the liver samples were taken 0, 1, 6, 24, and 48 hours after reperfusion. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, Na+ - K+ ATPase, and Ca2+ ATPase were compared. the percentage of apoptotic/oncotic hepatic cells was measured with flow cytometry, and the changes in hepatic cellular structures were observed under transmission electron microscope.

Compared with the sham operation group, the levels of serum AST and ALT significantly increased in the I/R group (P < 0.05), reaching their peak levels at the 6th hour. The activities of Na+ - K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase dramatically decreased one hour after reperfusion and then gradually recovered (P < 0.05). Hepatic cells mainly suffered oncosis at the early stage after reperfusion (within 6 hours); at the late stage (around 24 hours after reperfusion), apoptosis became the main death pattern.

Oncosis is the main pattern of hepatic cells death during I/R injury in cirrhotic rat, and the severity of hepatic injury correlates with the oncosis.