Postconditioning effect in the hepatic ischemia and reperfusion in rats.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of postconditioning protection in liver tissue of rats submitted to ischemia and reperfusion.

Methods: 25 Wistar male rats were randomized in three groups: Group A (ischemia and reperfusion - I/R), with 10 rats, which was made ischemia by vascular clamp application in hepatic hilum for 30 minutes and reperfusion for 60 minutes by removal of the clamp; Group B (Postconditioning - IPo), with 10 rats, with same procedure plus postconditioning (3 cycles of reperfusion inserted by 3 cycles of ischemia, 30 seconds for each phase, between ischemia and reperfusion phases); and Group C (Sham), with 5 rats, which took place only laparotomy and manipulation of the hepatic hilum. Specimens were examined (histological evaluation) and dosage of serum AST and ALT was made. The statistical analysis was made with t Student test, with significant difference when p<0.05.

Results: In the Sham group there was no histological or enzymatic changes; In group A the mean tissue lesion was 1.6 and in group B 1.1 (p=0.014). In group A the mean ALT level was 355U/l and in group B was 175.9U/l (p=0.016). The mean of AST was 828.8U/l in group A and 295.5U/l in group B (p=0.001).

Conclusion: The postconditioning was able to minimize the severity of liver injury in rats submitted to ischemia and reperfusion.