Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin and 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate on liver ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin and 2-merkaptoethane sulfonate, administered in combination, on the biochemical and histopathological changes of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Materials and Methods: Fifty female Wistar Albino rats were used in this study. The animals were randomly divided into 5 groups: a sham group that underwent standard laparotomy only, an ischemia-reperfusion group that was subjected to 30 minutes of hepatic ischemia and 2 hours of reperfusion, a group that intraperitoneally received 1000 IU/kg recombinant human erythropoietin 5 minutes before ischemia-reperfusion, a group that intraperitoneally received 150 mg/kg 2-merkaptoethane sulfonate 15 minutes before ischemia-reperfusion, and a combined group that received both drugs intraperitoneally before ischemia-reperfusion. After the reperfusion period, serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and malon-dialdehyde levels were measured. We also evaluated histological changes in rat liver tissues samples. Results: Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and malondialdehyde levels were high in the control groups, but aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels were within normal limits, especially in rats that only received recombinant human erythropoietin. In rats that received combined treatment, parenchymal alterations in liver tissue were less severe than in the other groups and necrosis did not occur. Conclusions: Recombinant human erythropoietin was clearly more effective than 2-merkaptoethane sulfonate for preventing oxidative injury. When the agents were combined, obvious biochemically and histologically protective effects occurred, providing significant tissue protection in ischemia-reperfusion injury.