The amelioration of hepatocyte oxidative stress injury by nitric oxide released from S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine: a study in immobilized perfused hepatocytes.

S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP, 0.1-0.5 mM) caused release of nitric oxide (NO) into the perfusion medium of immobilized hepatocytes. Oxidative injury of hepatocytes was evoked by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBH, 1 mM) and the functional and morphological ultrastructural integrity of the cells was monitored. At the end of a 270-min perfusion period, SNAP-induced NO reduced lactate dehydrogenase leakage in TBH-injured hepatocytes as compared to untreated TBH-injured cells (122% +/- 5 vs. 146% +/- 6 of control levels), lipid peroxides production (2.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 3.7 +/- 0.3 nmol/10(6) cells), increased O2 consumption (26 +/- 2 vs. 12 +/- 1 nmol/10(6) cells) although urea synthesis was reduced. SNAP improved the formation of granules in the Golgi complex as compared to untreated TBH-injured hepatocytes and preserved the ultrastructural architecture of mitochondria and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The present data support a possible protective role of NO in oxidative liver injury.