Abstract：Objective To determine the effects of dexmedetomidine on liver ischemia reperfusion injury(IRI)in rats. Methods 32 SD rats were allocated randomly into 4 groups (n=8 per group): Sham group (S), ischemia reperfusion group (IR), Dex group and Dex+Yoh group. IR group: the rats received continuous intravenous infusion of normal saline, and liver IRI was induced. Dex group: intravenous dexmedetomidine was infused continuously at 5 μg/(kg·h) for 1 h before the liver ischemia. Dex+Yoh group: yohimbine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg) was administered intravenously 10 min before dexmedetomidine. Serum AST, ALT, TNF-α, IL-6, liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonylaldehyde (MDA) were detected. Liver lesions were examined histopathologically. Results Compared with group S, the serum AST, ALT, TNF-α and IL-6, liver MDA increased while SOD decreased significantly in group IR (P<0.05). Compared with group IR, the serum AST, ALT, TNF-α and IL-6, liver MDA decreased while SOD increased significantly in group Dex (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between group IR and Dex+Yoh. The pathological injury accorded with biochemistry data. Conclusions Dexmedetomidine attenuates liver IRI, partly through the inhibition of oxygen derived free radicals and depressing liberation of cytokines via the activation of the α2-adrenoceptor.
2014, Vol. 25 
