| A period of ischemia is required for a number of surgical procedures on the liver, especially when dealing with extensive hepatic trauma or resecting large intrahepatic lesions. On restoring the blood supply, the liver is subjected to a further insult, aggravating the injury already caused by ischemia, this is termed ischemia-reperfusion injury. The insult on the liver after the onset of ischemia-reperfusion injury is a result of the interplay between different complex mechanisms, such as production of oxygen derived free radicals (ODFR), the action of inflammatory cytokines, deterioration in the delicate balance between nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET), failure of the hepatic microcirculation. Several studies have also shown that the administration of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Coenzyme QlO(CoQlO) and SOD results in protected the organ from ischemia-reperfusion injury during transplantation and liver resection. In China, they also concluded that suppression of ischemia-reperfusion injury could be obtained by some Chinese medicine especially antioxidant therapy. Shenfu injection, an intravenous drag made from traditional Chinese medicine herbs, which can stimulate the immune system and improve the microcirculation is used for anti-shock treatment in clinic. This study was designed to determine whether Shenfu injection has the protective effect in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.Material and Methods27 male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly allocated to 3 groups:Group A. Control. Animals were subjected to anaesthesia and laparotomy.Group B. Ischemia Reperfusion (I/R). Animals were subjected to 45 min of hepatic ischemia, followed by 45 min reperfusion.Group C. Ischemia Reperfusion /Shenfu injection. Animals subjected to 45 min of ischemia and 45 min reperfusion, were treated with Shenfu injection (10 ml kg-1 in 5% GS 100ml i.v.gtt) 10 min before ischemia.All of the animals were anesthetized with sodium thiopental and placed in a supine position.Animal model of hepatic ischemia in Group B and group C was established by placement of a bulldog clamp at the level of hepatic artery and portal vein for 45 min. Then reflow was initiated by removal of the clamp for 45 min. Blood levels of ALT, AST, LDH, SOD, MDA, TNF, 1L-10, NO and ET were measured on 45 min after ischemia and 45 min after reperfusion.Liver samples were taken for histopathology at 45 min of reperfusion. These were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, embebbed in paraplast and 6um sections, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin according to standard procedures. Sections were evaluated by light microscopic examination.Data are expressed as means S.E.M. Comparisons between groups were made by the Student's t test, an associated probability of p<0.05 was considered to be significant.ResultSignificant increases in serum ALT,AST and LDH levels were observed in the group subjected to ischemia and reperfusion. These increases were significantly lower when ischemia was preceded by treated with Shenfu injection (P<0.05), this indicating the effectiveness of Shenfu injection in preventing hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury.During ischemia-reperfusion, a significant increase was observed in MDA, TNF activities in I/R group as compared with controls. However, in Shenfu group, those activities decreased to control levels as compared with I/R group on 45 min after reperfusion (P<0.05). And in Shenfu group following 45 min of reperfusion, the activity of ET was lower than before operation.SOD, IL-10 and NO activity significantly decreased in I/R group compared to the controls. Those activities in Shenfu group was higher than I/R group following 45 min of reperfusion (P<0.05).The microscopic study of the liver shows that Shenfu injection prior to I/R prevented tissue damage induced by ischemia reperfusion, showing minimal lesions which consisted of swelling of isolated hepatocytes and dilation of central vein. By the contrary, in the liver of animals from ischemia-reperfusion extensive ballooning degeneration...
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