Danshen protects liver grafts from ischemia/reperfusion injury in experimental liver transplantation in rats

Reperfusion injury remains one of the major problems in transplantation. Free radicals and disturbance of microcirculation are the supposed main contributors. Recent evidence shows that Danshen, a traditional Chinese drug used in vascular diseases, can scavenge radicals and improve microcirculation. This study investigates its effect on liver transplantation (LTx). Before organ recovery, female Sprague-Dawley rats (210–240 g) received intravenous Danshen or the same volume of Ringer solution as control. LTx was performed after 1 h of cold storage. Microperfusion, leukocyte-endothelium interaction and latex-bead phagocytosis were evaluated with in vivo microscopy. Survival, transaminases and histology were assessed. Immunohistology was used for TNF-α levels. anova and Fisher's exact test were employed for statistical analyses as appropriate. Survival increased from 60% in controls to 100% ( P  < 0.05). AST and LDH decreased from 3969 ± 1255 U/l and 15444 ± 5148 U/l in controls to 1236 ± 410 U/l and 5039 ± 1594 U/l, respectively ( P  < 0.05). In vivo microscopy revealed decreased leukocyte-adherence and increased blood flow velocity in sinusoidal zones after administration of Danshen ( P  < 0.05), while latex-bead phagocytosis was found in 60% of controls ( P  < 0.05). The TNF-α index decreased from 2.08 ± 0.09 in controls to 1.09 ± 0.09 ( P  < 0.05). This study clearly demonstrates hepatoprotective effects after experimental LTx, which can be explained via anti-oxidative effects, improved microcirculation and decreased Kupffer cell activation.