IMPROVEMENT OF HEPATIC MICROHEMODYNAMICS BY N-ACETYLCYSTEINE AFTER WARM ISCHEMIA

In this study we investigated the influence of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the hepatic microcirculation after warm ischemia by intravital fluo rescence microscopy, Clamping of the left liver lobe was performed in 20 male Wistar rats for 70 min, The treatment group (n = 10) received 400 mg NAC/kg body weight 20 min prior to clamping, After reperfusion, acinar and sinusoidal perfusions were observed as well as the leukocy te-endothelium interaction, Phagocytic activity was assessed after app lication of latex beads. NAC reduced the number of nonperfused sinusoi ds in all acinar zones. A reduction in zone 1 (portal) was achieved fr om 15.5 to 7.1% (p < 0.0001), in zone 2 (midzonal) from 14.6 to 6.1% ( p < 0.0001) and in zone 3 (central) from 11.9 to 2.9% (p < 0.0001). Th ere were no significant differences in leukocyte adherence as well as in phagocytic activity detectable. We conclude that NAC improves hepat ic microcirculation after warm ischemia by increasing sinusoidal blood flow.