Adenosine preconditioning attenuates hepatic reperfusion injury in the rat by preventing the down-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase

• Main Authors: Williamson Robin CN, Habib Nagy A, Virlos Ioannis T, Serracino-Inglott Ferdinand, Mathie Robert T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2002-09-01
• Series: BMC Gastroenterology
• Subjects: ischemia; liver; Wistar rats; immunohistochemistry; N^G-Nitro-L-arginine
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-230X/2/22

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous work has suggested that in the liver, adenosine preconditioning is mediated by nitric oxide. Whether the endothelial isoform of nitric oxide synthase plays a part in this mechanism has however not yet been investigated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Wistar rats were used (6 in each group) – Groups: (1) sham, (2) ischemia-reperfusion, (3) adenosine + ischemia-reperfusion, (4) endothelial isoform inhibitor + adenosine + ischemia-reperfusion.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using immunohistochemistry, this study has revealed a decrease in the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase following hepatic ischemia-reperfusion. This was prevented by adenosine pre-treatment. When an inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase was administered prior to adenosine pre-treatment, pre-conditioning did not occur despite normal expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These findings suggest that adenosine attenuates hepatic injury by preventing the downregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase that occurs during ischemia-reperfusion.</p>