Pulmonary effects after partial liver ischemia and reperfusion: experimental model.

OBJECTIVE To describe an experimental model of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury with systemic manifestations, represented by pulmonary involvement, which may be used by those who intend to comprehend this phenomenon. METHODS Fourteen Male Wistar rats (200-250g) were allocated to two groups, G1 with eight rats submitted only to laparotomy and G2, six rats submitted to hepatic ischemia and reperfusion. Hepatic (serum aminotransferases, mitochondrial respiration, histology) and pulmonary (Evans blue test) functions were analyzed. RESULTS There was a statistically significant difference (p< 0.05) between G1 and G2 comparing values of AST (24,3 ± 108 and 5406 ± 2263), ALT (88,5 ± 28,5 and 5169 ± 2690), respiratory control ratio (3,41 ± 0,17 and 1,91 ± 0,55) and ADP/O relation (1,93 ± 0,03 and 1,45 ± 0,27), histological lesions (necrosis, inflammatory cells, hemorrhage, microsteatosis) and Evans blue test (194,31 ± 53 and 491,8 ± 141). CONCLUSION The model has proven useful to study hepatic I/R injury.