Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Inducing Acute Liver Injury in Rats via Carbon Tetrachloride CCl4 Exposure Through an Orogastric Tube
06:12

Inducing Acute Liver Injury in Rats via Carbon Tetrachloride CCl4 Exposure Through an Orogastric Tube

Published on: April 28, 2020

12.0K

Effect of Methylprednisolone on Liver Injury and Endotoxin Levels Following Brain Death in Rats

R Zhu1, H Fang1, S Cao1

  • 1Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.

Transplantation Proceedings
|December 23, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Methylprednisolone protects liver injury in brain-dead rats by reducing inflammation. This treatment improved liver histology and inflammatory cytokine levels but did not affect endotoxin levels.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Transplantation Immunology
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Brain death significantly impairs liver function in potential organ donors.
  • Inflammatory activation is a key consequence of brain death, exacerbating liver injury.
  • Methylprednisolone has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the protective effects of methylprednisolone on liver injury in a rat model of brain death.
  • To assess the impact of methylprednisolone on liver function, inflammatory markers, and endotoxin levels post-brain death.

Main Methods:

  • A rat model of brain death was established using controlled intracranial pressure elevation.
  • Thirty-two rats were randomized into four groups: Sham, Brain Death (BD), BD + Saline, and BD + Methylprednisolone.
  • Liver histology (Knodell index), inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10), liver function, and endotoxin levels were evaluated after 6 hours.

Main Results:

  • Methylprednisolone significantly reduced the Knodell histology activity index, indicating less liver injury (P < .05).
  • Treatment with methylprednisolone led to significant reductions in TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10 levels compared to saline and BD groups (P < .01).
  • Despite improved liver injury, methylprednisolone did not significantly alter endotoxin levels (P > .05).

Conclusions:

  • Methylprednisolone confers protection against liver injury in the context of brain death in rats.
  • The protective mechanism appears to involve the suppression of inflammatory activity.
  • Methylprednisolone treatment did not influence endotoxin levels in this brain death model.

More Related Videos

Laser-Induced Brain Injury in the Motor Cortex of Rats07:05

Laser-Induced Brain Injury in the Motor Cortex of Rats

Published on: September 26, 2020

5.9K
Organ Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Simulating Hemodynamic Changes in Rat Liver Transplant Model10:07

Organ Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Simulating Hemodynamic Changes in Rat Liver Transplant Model

Published on: March 6, 2021

5.6K

Related Concept Videos

Leveling Effect01:29

Leveling Effect

In acid-base chemistry, the leveling effect refers to the limitation imposed by the solvent on the strength of acids and bases in solution. When a base stronger than the solvent's conjugate base is used, it deprotonates the solvent until the base is entirely consumed, making it ineffective against weaker acids. Conversely, an acid stronger than the solvent's conjugate acid protonates the solvent until the acid is depleted, rendering it ineffective against weaker bases. Essentially, the...
1.4K
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
743
Autophagic Cell Death01:18

Autophagic Cell Death

Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...
4.5K
Overview of Cell Death01:30

Overview of Cell Death

Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the...
9.9K
Levels of Organization01:09

Levels of Organization

Biological organization is the classification of biological structures, ranging from atoms at the bottom of the hierarchy to the Earth's biosphere. Each level of the hierarchy represents an increase in complexity that builds upon the previous level.
Molecules Are Composed of Atoms, and Biomolecules Are Assembled from Molecules:
The most basic levels include atoms, molecules, and biomolecules. Atoms, the smallest unit of ordinary matter, are composed of a nucleus and electrons. Molecules...
140.7K
Fermi Level01:18

Fermi Level

The Fermi-Dirac function is represented by an S-shaped curve indicating the probability of an energy state being occupied by an electron at a given temperature. The Fermi level is the energy level at which there is a fifty percent chance of finding an electron, and it is positioned between the lower-energy valence band and the higher-energy conduction band.
At absolute zero temperature, electrons fill all energy states up to the Fermi level, leaving upper states empty. As the temperature rises,...
1.8K