Z Gastroenterol 2006; 44 - A134
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-943500

Effect of glutamine pretreatment on rat liver microcirculation during ischemia-reperfusion

A Szijártó 1, O Hahn 1, Z Mihály 1, A Kiss 1, E Batmunkh 2, Z Schaff 2, L Váli 3, A Blázovics 3, D Gerő 4, P Kupcsulik 1, L Harsányi 1
  • 1Semmelweis University, 1st Department of Surgery
  • 2Semmelweis University, 2nd Department of Pathology
  • 3Semmelweis University, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine
  • 4Semmelweis University, Institute of Human Physiology and Clinical Experimental Research

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury plays an important role during liver resection or liver transplantation. Ischemic damage is inevitable in a number of surgical procedures performed on the liver. The clinical outcome as well as the survival of the functioning grafts and the resected liver largely depends on the extent of inflicted damage. The glutamine is essential in the glutathion (GSH) synthesis as it is well-known. The I-R leads to the production of toxic oxygen-derived free radicals which influence the GSH pools. This study investigated the effect of glutamine pretreatment on hepatic microcirculation (HM), assuming the glutamine protective effect against the free radicals.

Methods: 250–280g male Wistar rats underwent normothermic, 60 minutes, segmental liver ischemia. The reperfusion was observed for 30 minutes. The animals were divided into two groups: control (n=5) and glutamine (Dipeptiven®, 245mg/bwkg) pretreated (n=5) groups. Changes of the hepatic microcirculation were studied by LDF with on-line computer monitoring and processing. The reperfusion was characterized as the integral of the reperfusion segment of the graphs (RA=reperfusion area) as well as the maximal plateau of the reperfusion section of the graphs (PM=plateau maximum). Histological alterations, serum and liver tissue antioxidant (AO) levels (free SH-groups, H-donating ability, determination of the reducing power, chemiluminescence assay) were all simultaneously measured.

Results: According to the laser Doppler flowmetry there is no significant difference between the glutamine pretreated group and the control group after 60 minutes ischemia. The groups with glutamine had significantly (p<0.05) higher antioxidant level at the end of the 30 minutes reperfusion.

Conclusion: The expected benefit of glutamine pretreatment on hepatic microcirculation has not shown significant improvement. Significant effect could be seen in the antioxidant changes in the glutamine pretreated group. The use of higher dose of glutamine must be considered.