[Protective effect of Salvia on ischemia-reperfusion hepatic injury in rats]

To detect the expressions of nuclear factor-Kappa B (NF-κB) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) after hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury so as to study the protective effect of Salvia in rats.

The hepatic ischemia-reperfusion rat model was established by the method of Nauta. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham operation (S), ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and Salvia preconditioning (P). At 2, 8, 24 h after ischemia-reperfusion, immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the hepatic expressions of NF-κB and ICAM-1. Measurement of hepatic tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) concentration was used to reflect the neutrophilic infiltration of hepatic tissue. And the injury severity of hepatic tissue was evaluated by the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and the examinations of light microscopy and electron microscopy.

The NF-κB level at 2 h (0.418 ± 0.039) post-reperfusion was significantly higher in the I/R group. And it decreased gradually at 8 h (0.308 ± 0.028) and 24 h (0.240 ± 0.032). And the ICAM-1 level increased at 2 h (0.367 ± 0.034) post-reperfusion, peaked at 8 h(0.451 ± 0.031)and began to decrease at 24 h (0.293 ± 0.025). The changes of MPO, ALT and AST were similar to ICAM-1. The above-mentioned indicators at different time-points were lower in the P group than those of the I/R group (P < 0.05), but higher than the S group (P < 0.05). The changes in ALT, MPO, NF-κB and ICAM-1 had a positive correlation (P < 0.01). Light and electron microscopy observations showed significant differences in different groups.

The rat hepatic ischemia-reperfusion increases the expressions of NF-κB and ICAM-1 and they are involved in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. Salvia significantly reduces the expressions of NF-κB and ICAM-1 in ischemia-reperfusion hepatic tissue and it may effectively protect the injury of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion.