Preconditioning somatothermal stimulation on Qimen (LR14) reduces hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract

Background: In human beings or animals, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of the liver may occur in many clinical conditions, such as circulating shock, liver transplantation and surgery and several other pathological conditions. I/R injury has a complex pathophysiology resulting from a number of contributing factors. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve effective treatment or protection by individually targeting the mediators. This study aimed at studying the effects of local somatothermal stimulation preconditioning on the right Qimen (LR14) on hepatic I/R injury in rats.

Methods: Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. The rats were preconditioned with thermal tolerance study, which included one dose of local somatothermal stimulation (LSTS) on right Qimen (LR14) at an interval of 12 h, followed by hepatic ischemia for 60 min and then reperfusion for 60 min. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) have been used to assess the liver functions, and liver tissues were taken for the measurements such as malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxidase dismutase (SOD), and myeloperoxidase (MPO).

Results: The results show that the plasma ALT and AST activities were higher in the I/R group than in the control group. In addition, the plasma ALT and AST activities decreased in the groups that received LSTS. The hepatic SOD levels reduced significantly by I/R injury. Moreover, the hepatic MPO activity significantly increased by I/R injury while it decreased in the groups given LSTS.

Conclusions: Our findings show that LSTS provides a protective effects on the liver from the I/R injury. Therefore, LSTS might offer an easy and inexpensive intervention for patients who have suffered from I/R of the liver especially in the process of hepatotomy and hepatic transplantation.

Figure 1

Anatomical and acupoint position. The heat generator was applied to 0.5 cm above the right Qimen (LR14), just at the junction of right midclavicular line and the sixth intercostal space.

Figure 2

Hepatic SOD results. Effects of ischemia/reperfusion and its pre-treatment with LSTS on SOD levels (SOD) of collected liver tissue. ^*P < 0.05: Compared to the I/R group.

Figure 3

Hepatic CAT results. Effects of ischemia/reperfusion and its pre-treatment with LSTS on CAT levels of collected liver tissue. ^*P < 0.05: Compared to the I/R group.

Figure 4

Hepatic GSH results. Effects of ischemia/reperfusion and its pre-treatment with LSTS on GSH levels of collected liver tissue. ^*P < 0.05: Compared to the I/R group.

Figure 5

Hepatic MDA results. Effects of ischemia/reperfusion and its pre-treatment with LSTS on MDA levels of collected liver tissue. ^*P < 0.05: Compared to the I/R group.

Figure 6

Hepatic MPO results. Effects of ischemia/reperfusion and its pre-treatment with LSTS on MPO levels of collected liver tissue. ^*P < 0.05: Compared to the I/R group.

Figure 7

Histological results. A. In the control group, the normal liver parenchyme occurred showed regular morphology of both hepatocytes and sinusoids around the central vein (CV). B. In the I/R group, hepatocytes (*) were prominently swollen with marked vacuolization. Congestion was noticed in enlarged sinusoids. The liver parenchyme took place displayed irregular morphology of both hepatocytes and sinusoids around the central vein. C. In the I/R + LSTS group, hepatocytes and sinusoids represented normal morphology reflecting a well preserved liver parenchyma (400X).