Caloric restriction protects livers from ischemia/reperfusion damage by preventing Ca-induced mitochondrial permeability transition.

Caloric restriction (CR) promotes lifespan extension and protects against many pathological conditions, including ischemia/reperfusion injury to the brain, heart and kidney. In the liver, ischemia/reperfusion damage is related to excessive mitochondrial Ca accumulation, leading to the mitochondrial permeability transition. Indeed, liver mitochondria isolated from animals maintained on CR for 4 months were protected against permeability transition and capable of taking up Ca at faster rates and in larger quantities.

The effect of n-acetylcysteine on hepatic histomorphology during hypothermic preservation.

Purpose: To evaluate the NAC effects on liver hypothermic preservation at different time intervals.

Methods: For this, we used livers of male Wistar rats weighing between 250 and 300 g, undergoing preservation in Ringer solution at 4°C for up to 24 hours. Tissue samples were obtained at four moments of preservation for histological examination by hematoxylin and eosin staining: T0 = beginning of preservation, T12 = 12 hours, T18 = 18 hours and T24 = 24 hours.