THE EFFECT OF ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL AND PENTOXYFILLINE ON ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION INDUCED LIVER-INJURY IN RATS

BACKGROUND/AIM: In the present study our purpose was to investigate th e effect of pentoxyfilline, that plays a role in microcirculation and tissue oxygenation, alone and in combination with an antioxidant vitam in E on tissue damage in the rat liver induced by ischemia-reperfusion . METHODOLOGY: Thirty-one albino rats were divided into four groups. R ats in group I (n= 7), group II (n= 8) and group III (n= 8) were given , respectively, pentoxyfilline (25 mg/kg), pentoxyfilline and vitamin E in combination (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, respectively) and equal volum e of saline solution intraperitoneally for 7 days. Rats in group TV (n = 8) served as controls and received no treatment. On day 7 ischemia w as induced by cross-clamping the hepatic artery, portal vein and left branch of the biliary duct for 30 minutes. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and c atalase activity were assessed in tissue sample, and the level of ALT was measured in serum obtained after reperfusion for 30 minutes. Histo logical examination of tissue sample was also carried out. RESULTS: Th ere was no significant difference in ALT level between three study gro ups. Group I and group II had significant lower MDA and catalase level s than those of group III. The results of histopathologic examination in group I and group II were better than that of group III. CONCLUSION : Our findings suggested that the treatment of pentoxyfilline alone an d in combination with vitamin E decreased liver damage induced by isch emia-reperfusion and that the effect of latter was more effective but the difference between the two treatment patterns was not statisticall y significant.