Edaravone inhibits apoptosis caused by ischemia/reperfusion injury in a porcine hepatectomy model

Figure 1 Two groups of animals were prepared. One group received saline and the other received E3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (Edr) which was administered intravenously at a dose of 3 mg/kg per hour from commencement of clamping to completion of the liver resection.

Figure 2 After 1 mo, increasing remnant liver weight ratio showed no difference between the two groups (P = 0. 228). Liver weight increasing ratio (%) = estimated remnant liver weight at resection/remnant liver weight after 1 mo × 100. Total liver weight was calculated based on previous experimental data of 30 pigs. We calculated the average percentage of total liver weight to body weight (2.64%). Edr: E3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one.

Figure 3 Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were not different between the two groups. A: Systolic blood pressure (SBP); B: Diastolic blood pressure (DBP); Edr: E3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one.

Figure 4 Aspartate aminotransferase was significantly lower 3 h after reperfusion compared to the control (^aP = 0. 029). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and lactic acid (LA) were not different after reperfusion in the E3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (Edr)-treated group compared to the control group. AST: Aspartate aminotransferase.

Figure 5 Transforming growth factor-β1 mRNA expression in liver tissue. Expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) mRNA in the E3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (Edr)-treated group tended to decrease 3 h and 1 mo after reperfusion, however, no significant difference between the two groups was observed (P = 0.285, P = 0.172).

Figure 6 Toll like receptor 4 mRNA level. Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA level significantly decreased in the E3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (Edr)-treated group at 3 h after surgery (^aP = 0.004). At 1 mo after operation, Toll like receptor 4 level showed no differences between the two groups.

Figure 7 Morphometric evaluation of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling-positive hepatocytes in terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling-stained tissue samples after resection and after 1 mo (A, B). The differences between the two groups were statistically significant 5 min after hepatectomy and 3 h after declamping (values are expressed as mean ± SD, n = 6 in both groups). ^aP = 0.001. Edr: E3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one; TUNEL: Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling.