M. Yuksel et al., The role of hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the evaluation of the protectiveeffects of dimethylsulphoxide in ischaemic/reperfusion injury of liver, NUCL MED C, 21(8), 2000, pp. 775-780
Liver ischaemia may lead to parenchymal damage depending on the duration of
the ischaemia. Dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO), a well-known radical oxygen scav
enger, is a protective agent against ischaemia/reperfusion injury. In this
study we aimed to investigate the role of hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBSc)
in detecting the protective effect of DMSO. Eighteen rabbits, in three gro
ups of six, were injected with 37 MBq technetium-99m-mebrofenin via the ear
veins. Dynamic scintigrams were taken for 60 min (1 frame/min). In group A
, HBSc was performed without any surgery. In groups B and C the Pringle man
oeuvre (PM) was applied for 30 min, and tissue specimens for electron micro
scopy were taken from the liver parenchyma 5 min after the end of the PM. I
n addition, in group C 1 g/kg DMSO was injected into each rabbit 5 min befo
re application of the PM. HBSc was then performed in groups 5 and C. From t
he dynamic images time-activity curves (TACs) were obtained for each group,
and the time of peak uptake (TPU) and time for half of the activity to cle
ar from the liver (T 1/2) were calculated. The TPU and T 1/2 of group B wer
e significantly longer than those of groups A and C (P <0.0005 and P < 0.00
5 for TPU, and P<0.0005 and P<0.02 for T 1/2 respectively). The TPU and T 1
/2 of group C were significantly longer than those of group A (P <0.005 and
P<0.02, respectively). While the electron microscopic images in group C sh
owed reversible changes, those in group B showed both irreversible and reve
rsible changes. The electron microscopic findings of groups B and C confirm
ed the scintigraphic findings. In conclusion, HBSc might be used as a pract
ical quantitative method for detecting the protective effects of DMSO. Howe
ver, its clinical value should be evaluated by further studies with human s
ubjects. ((C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins).