Introduction:
The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of quercetin on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in rats caused by Pringle maneuver.
Methods:
Overall, 24 5- to 6-month-old female Wistar Albino rats weighing 200-250 mg were included in the present study. In the sham group, laparotomy was performed 15 min after anesthesia induction. Ischemia was not created. In the other groups, the hepatic pedicle (portal vein, hepatic artery, and bile duct) was explored, and ischemia was created with an atraumatic microvascular clamp. Concurrently, the exposed abdomen was covered with warm gauze soaked in saline. In the study group, quercetin was intraperitoneally injected prior to laparotomy and IR. Liver tissue samples from the left lobe were analyzed under a light microscope for liver damage. For the evaluation of hepatic IR injury and assessment of the effect of quercetin on antioxidant systems, total oxidant status (TOS), and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were measured. Oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated.
Results:
Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase values of the control group were significantly higher than those of the sham and the study groups (p<0.001). Although the mean TAS, TOS, and OSI values of the study group were found to be lower than those of the control group, the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Significantly less vacuolization and sinusoidal dilatation were observed in the study group than in the control group (p<0.05). For necrosis and apoptosis, there was no significant difference between the control and the study groups (p>0.05).
Conclusion:
On consideration of all findings, quercetin, which hosts many molecules within its structure with a potential utility, such as an antiinflammatory agent, antioxidant, and antiaggregant, has an effect that may be protective against hepatic IR injury.
Keywords: Quercetin, ischemia-reperfusion, liver injury, Pringle maneuver, rat model, antioxidant