Effects of amrinone in an experimental model of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: During some surgical interventions, temporary occlusion of the hepatic blood supply may cause ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Recent studies suggest that type 3 phosphodiesterase inhibitors may have a beneficial effect on liver IR injury. The aim of this study was to investigate whether amrinone, a type 3 phosphodiesterase inhibitor, could have a protective effect on liver having experimental liver IR injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups. The IR and amrinone groups were subjected to 1 h total hepatic ischemia, followed by 2 h of reperfusion. The sham group underwent midline laparotomy only. Amrinone 10 microg/kg/min was infused to the amrinone group during the 3 h of the IR period. Histopathological examination, biochemical liver function, and liver adenosine triphosphate concentration after reperfusion and survival rate on the seventh day after the IR insult were recorded.

RESULTS: Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactic dehydrogenase levels, and histological damage scores in the amrinone and IR groups were significantly higher compared with the sham group (P < 0.01). However, all of these values were significantly lower in the amrinone group than in the IR group (P < 0.05). Liver adenosine triphosphate levels and the rat survival rate in the amrinone and IR groups were significantly lower than those in the sham group (P < 0.01). However, these values were significantly higher in the amrinone group compared to those in the IR group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that amrinone plays a significant role in the protection of liver against IR injury and that this treatment may be a novel pharmacological agent for safe and efficient liver surgery.