ALLOPURINOL REDUCED HEPATIC ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION INJURY EXACERBATED BY INHALATION OF HIGH-CONCENTRATION OXYGEN IN RATS

Exposure to high-concentration oxygen (O-2) increases lipid peroxidati on of the cellular membrane, leading to tissue injury which may involv e hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. We examined the effects o f inhaling high-concentration O-2 on hepatic I/R injury with allopurin ol, which is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor. Partial hepatic ischemia wa s performed in rats with or without allopurinol under 21 or 100% O-2 i nhalation. Levels of lipid peroxide, serum liver enzymes, and hepatoce llular oxidative stress in the 100% O-2 group were significantly highe r than in the 21% O-2 Administration of allopurinol significantly inhi bited those changes in the 100% O-2 group. Severe degeneration of mito chondria were noted in the 100% O-2 group, but appeared to be reduced by allopurinol. Results suggest that inhalation of high-concentration O-2 during liver surgery may increase lipid peroxidation and exacerbat e hepatic I/R injury, but those changes may be prevented by allopurino l.