[Role of thromboxanes in hepatic ischemia]

Thromboxanes and prostacyclins are two prostanoids that may play an important part in the hepatic lesions induced by ischemia. In order to study this hypothesis, we have compared the survival rate of rats submitted to a 90-minute warm ischemia by giving them agents inhibiting the synthesis of thromboxanes and/or exogenic PGI2. Simultaneously, we have measured the rate of production of TxA2 and PGI2 by the hepatic tissue after 90-minute ischemia and after 30-minute reperfusion. Our results suggest that the decrease in the thromboxane level is a deciding factor of improvement in the tolerance of the liver to ischemia. The drug that allows achieving the best survival rate and the greatest decrease in the thromboxane levels is Imidazole.