The role of hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the evaluation of the protectiveeffects of dimethylsulphoxide in ischaemic/reperfusion injury of liver

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).