[Protection against liver injuries induced by low-temperature preservation with ulinastatin].

OBJECTIVE

To study whether ulinastatin has a protective role in cold preservation of liver and its mechanism.

METHODS

To study the role of ulinastatin in protection of liver after cold preservation, the isolated rat liver with perfused either with cold perfusion fluid or perfused with cold perfusion fluid with ulinastatin. Liver tissue was harvested at 0, 12 and 24 hours after cold perfusion, and morphological changes were examined, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) contents were also determined.

RESULTS

ALT, LDH, MPO and MDA contents were significantly lower in ulinastatin group than those in the control group at 12 and 24 hours, and levels of ALT, LDH, MDA and MPO were increased along with prolongation of preservation time (all P<0.01), but SOD was higher in ulinastatin group than the control group and it was increased along with the prolongation of time (all P<0.01). Compared with ulinastatin group, the control group showed obvious pathological changes.

CONCLUSION

Protective effect of UW solution used in clinic weakens gradually as cold preservation time is prolonged. Ulinastatin has protective effect on liver against cold preservation injury, and its effect is better than the simple UW solution. Its mechanism is related to inhibition of anti-oxidation and aggregation neutrophil's accumulation effect of ulinastatin.