EFFECT OF ALLOPURINOL ON THE CONCENTRATION OF ENDOGENOUS GLUTATHIONE IN HEPATOCYTES AFTER AN HOUR OF NORMOTHERMIC LIVER ISCHEMIA

Objective: To find out whether oxygen free radicals liberated by activ ation of xanthine oxidase change the tissue concentration of glutathio ne. Design: Controlled study. Material: 42 male Wistar rats. Intervent ion: Laparotomy, induction of ischemia, and reperfusion. 27 rats were treated with allopurinol (to inhibit xanthine oxidase) and the remaini ng 15 acted as controls. Main outcome measures: Concentrations of redu ced glutathione, oxidized glutathione, and total glutathione in hepato cytes, blood, and bile. Results: Concentration of reduced and total gl utathione in hepatocytes decreased significantly during reperfusion an d oxidized glutathione was unchanged in all groups. Total glutathione in peripheral venous blood was reduced by half during the period of is chemia and increased gradually during reperfusion whereas the concentr ation of total glutathione in bile decreased appreciable during reperf usion. Production of bile improved significantly during reperfusion in the group treated with allopurinol compared with the control group. C onclusion: Xanthine oxidase may not be the main source of production o f oxygen free radicals as allopurinol did not affect the hepatic conce ntration of glutathione during reperfusion.