Protective effect of ozone treatment on the injury associated with hepaticischemia-reperfusion: Antioxidant-prooxidant balance

The effects of ozone treatment on the injury associated to hepatic ischemia -reperfusion (I/R) was evaluated. Ozone treatment (1 mg/kg daily during 10 days by rectal insufflation) is shown to be protective as it attenuated the increases in transaminases (AST, ALT) and lactate levels observed after I/ R. I/R leads to a decrease in endogenous antioxidant (SOD and glutathione) and an increase in reactive oxygen species (H2O2) With respect to the contr ol group. However, ozone treatment results in a preservation (glutathione) or increase (SOD) in antioxidant defense and maintains H2O2 at levels compa rable to those in the control group. The present study reports a protective effect of ozone treatment on the injury associated to hepatic I/R. The eff ectiveness of ozone could be related to its action on endogenous antioxidan ts and prooxidants balance in favour of antioxidants, thus attenuating oxid ative stress.