The comparison of electron microscopy and scintigraphy in determining the protective effect of dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) on ischemia/reperfusion injury through Pringle maneuver.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We investigated the role of the electron microscopy and hepatobiliary scintigraphy in determining the effect of DMSO (dimethysulphoxide) and ischemia/reperfusion injury in the liver after the Pringle maneuver.

METHODOLOGY

Twenty-four rabbits were divided into the following groups; A: Control group, B: Pringle, C: 10 mg/kg DMSO, D: 1 g/kg DMSO + Pringle. Group A was considered as a control group and only laparotomy was applied. Group B was exposed to Pringle maneuver only. Group C was given 10 mg/kg of DMSO via the vena cava inferior. Group D was given 1 g/kg of DMSO. A clamp was fastened for the groups of B, C and D in the 30th minute of the Pringle maneuver and a biopsy was applied five minutes later. Fifteen minutes later a dynamic hepatobiliary scintigraphy was applied. From dynamic images, liver peak time and activity half time of the liver were obtained.

RESULTS

It was found that liver peak time and liver activity half time values of the group B, C and D were significantly longer than group A. Liver peak time and liver activity half time values of group B was not different from group C. However, some values of group D were found to be significantly shorter than groups B and C. In the electron microscopy examination, only in group B were some specific degenerative changes observed in the sinusoids. We observed less irreversible changes in group C than in group B. On the other hand, the least irreversible changes were in group D.

CONCLUSIONS

As a conclusion, while electron microscopy is regarded as the "gold standard", hepatobiliary scintigraphy may be thought of as an easily applicable method in determining the ischemic reperfusion injury in the clinical comparison of the protective agents.