The effect of melatonin on serum and liver tissue lipid peroxidation in hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury

Abstract

Purpose: Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIR) is a severe condition which is seen after hepatic resection procedures, hepatic arterial injury and in hepatic graft in living donor transplantation. In this study, our goal was to investigate the effect of melatonin, an INOS inhibitor and antioxidant, on the prevention of lipid peroxidation in blood and liver tissue induced by HIR.

Materials and Methods: Three groups were designed for the study. 10 Wistar Albino rats (150–200 g) were used for each group. Group A: Sham, Group B: HIR, Group C: HIR + M. No substance was given to the rats in groups A and B. Ischemia was induced with vascular clampage for 45 minutes. With declampage, reperfusion injury was induced for 30 minutes. Five minutes before reperfusion, melatonin 10mgr/kg was given intraperitoneally to Group C. Forty-five minutes after reperfusion rats were sacrificed and blood and liver tissue samples were taken. Serum and liver tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), were measured. Histopathological examinations for liver tissue were also performed.

Results: Plasma and liver tissue MDA and MPO levels were higher in HIR group. In HIR Group (Group B) necrosis and inflammation was detected in the liver tissue. Application of melatonin decreased blood MDA levels significantly, but did not lead to a significant decrease in the tissue levels. Based on the statistical data we gathered, blood and tissue MPO levels were significantly reduced in the melatonin group (Group C) and liver histopathology was significantly improved in HIR group (Group B).

Conclusion: Our study showed that application of an antioxidant in HIR injury, led to blood and lipid peroxidation and improvement in liver functions.