Effect of Trolox C on hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury in isolated perfused rat liver

Livers isolated from 18 hours fasted rats were subjected to N(2) hypoxia (for 45 min) followed by reoxygenation (for 45 min). The perfusion medium used was Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (KHBB, pH 7.4). Lactate and alanine were added as gluconeogenic and ureagenic substrates and Trolox C was also added to perfusate. Oxygen consumption, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine transaminase (ALT), total glutathione, oxidized glutathione, bile flow, glucose and urea were measured. After hypoxia oxygen consumption significantly dropped but Trolox C had no influence on this decrease. ALT and LDH were significantly increased by hypoxia/reoxygenation. This increase was markedly attenuated in the presence of Trolox C. The total glutathione and oxidized glutathione efflux increased following hypoxia, which were prevented by the treatment of Trolox C. Bile flow rate decreased following hypoxia/reoxygenation but did not continue to decrease in the reoxygenation phase by Trolox C. Following hypoxia/reoxygenation glucose and urea releases decreased. Trolox C had no influence on inhibition of glucose and urea production. These results suggest that Trolox C protected the liver cells against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, yielding further evidence for a causative role of oxidative stress in this model.