BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF ALLOPURINOL IN LIVER ISCHEMIA

Abstract

The effect of allopurinol on protein syntheiss, tissue water and adenine nucleotides in liver tissue during and after a period of liver ischemia was investigated in rats. Ischemia was induced in the left and median liver lobes for 1 h and experiments were continued for 2 h after reperfusion. One group of animals (n = 20) received allopurinol (50 mg/kg body wt) i.v. 10 min before induction of liver ischemia. Control rats (n = 20) were given a corresponding volume of saline solution. Protein synthesis was measured by determining the rate of amino acid incorporation into protein in incubated liver slices. The reduction of protein synthesis and energy level in liver tissue and the increase of hepatic tisue water were similar in both groups of animals at the end of the ischemic period. During reperfusion the protein synthesis rate was higher and hepatic tissue water was lower in allopurinol-treated animals than in control rats. No significant differences in hepatic adenine nucleotides were found btween the 2 groups of rats during ischemia or after reperfusion. Improved protein synthesis and reduced tissue water in the postischemic liver after administration of allupurinol were not the result of improved restoration of adenine nucleotides. Inhibited production of O2-free radicals might be 1 mechanism by which allopurinol exerted its beneficial effect after liver ischemia.