| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4260320 | Transplantation Proceedings | 2008 | 4 Pages |
Normothermic liver ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) may induce hepatocellular apoptosis. Caspase activation is involved in the initiation and execution of apoptosis. The aim of this study was to determine in vivo caspase activity in normothermic liver I-R in rats. Segmental normothermic ischemia of the liver was induced for 120 minutes in rats. After intravenous injection of the green probe FLIVO™, in vivo caspase-3- and -7-specific activity was determined using fluorescence microscopy, in either nonischemic or ischemic liver lobes at 3 and 6 hours after reperfusion. Liver apoptosis was assessed by the deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Fluorescence microscopy showed that in vivo caspase-3- and -7-specific activities were significantly increased (P < .005) in ischemic lobes at 3 and 6 hours of reperfusion, compared with nonischemic liver lobes. Quantitative analysis of apoptotic cells measured by the TUNEL method showed a significant increase among apoptotic cells in ischemic lobes at 3 and 6 hours after reperfusion (P < .005), compared with nonischemic liver lobes. In conclusion, 120-minute normothermic liver I-R resulted in increased caspase-3- and -7-specific activities and in liver cell apoptosis.
