Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
Organ Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Simulating Hemodynamic Changes in Rat Liver Transplant Model
Published on: March 6, 2021
Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury is diminished by atorvastatin in Wistar rats
Carlos Rodrigo Cámara-Lemarroy1, Francisco Javier Guzmán-de la Garza1, Gabriela Alarcón-Galván2
1Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
Background And Aims:
Temporal occlusion of the hepatoduodenal ligament (HDL) is often used during liver surgeries in order to reduce blood loss, resulting in ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R). The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of atorvastatin (ATOR) on hepatic I/R injury and on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), endothelin-1 (ET-1), antithrombin III (ATIII) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1).
Methods:
Liver ischemia was induced in Wistar rats by clamping the HDL for 60 min, followed by either 60 or 180 min reperfusion. Rats received either vehicle or 10 mg/kg ATOR before hepatic I/R. Control group received sham surgery. Livers were examined for histological damage and serum AST, ALT, TNF-α, ET-1, ATIII and ICAM-1 concentrations were measured.
Results:
After I/R, AST and ALT were significantly elevated, ATIII levels were significantly depleted, both TNF-α and ICAM-1 levels increased and ET-1 was significantly elevated (at 180 min). ATOR pretreatment attenuated these alterations and diminished histological injury scores.
Conclusions:
Our results show that ATOR protects the liver from I/R injury.
