The effects of allopurinol in hepatic ischemia and reperfusion: Experimental study in rats

Background/Aims: Some studies have shown that post-ischemic hepatic dysfunc tion is mainly due to oxygen free radicals that are generated by xanthine o xidase. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of allopur inol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, on oxidative stress, liver injury a nd histologic alterations induced by hepatic ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Methods: One hundred and sixty Wistar rats were used and divided into three groups. Group 1: sham operation; group 2: 50 min of ischemia followed by 1 h of reperfusion, and group 3: pretreatment with allopurinol and 50 min of ischemia followed by 1 h of reperfusion. The effect of allopurinol was eva luated by plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotran sferase, histopathologic studies, and lipid peroxidation measured by the th iobarbituric acid reactive substances method and chemiluminescence initiate d by tert-butyl hydroperoxide technique. Results: Ischemia followed by repe rfusion promoted an increase in lipid peroxidation of the hepatic cells whe n compared to the sham-operated group (p < 0.05). This increase was attenua ted in the group treated with allopurinol (p < 0.05). Allopurinol also show ed a protective effect on hepatocellular necrosis (p < 0.05), and the plasm a levels of liver enzymes returned earlier to the normal range in rats pret reated with allopurinol in comparison to those that did not receive the dru g (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Allopurinol exerted a protective effect on hepat ic ischemia and reperfusion in rats. The administration of this drug prior to liver operations should be considered to be submitted to trials in human s. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.