Changes in Tissue Levels of High Energy Phosphate in Ischemia-reperfusion Injury to Liver and Influences of Ulinastatin and CV4151 on Energy Metabolism of the Liver

Tsuyoshi Kurokawa, Akio Harada, Mitsuru Nishikimi, Koushiro Kuroe, Wakahiko Kishimoto, Toshiaki Nonami, Akimasa Nakao, Hiroshi Takagi

Department of Surgery II, Nagoya University School of Medicine

Dynamic changes in adenine and guanine nucleotide levels of rat liver during ischemia and reperfusion were investigated. The effects of thromboxane A₂ synthetase inhibitor (CV4151) and protease inhibitor (Ulinastatin) on the recovery of the liver energy status were also studied. Recovery of adenine nucleotide levels after 30-min reperfusion was markedly disturbed in the 30-min ischemia group compared with the 15-min ischemia group. Changes in guanine nucleotide levels were similar to those in adenine nucleotide.levels. Increases in catabolites of the nucleo tides, i.e. hypoxanthine and xanthine, were not marked even after 30-min ischemia. Recovery of liver tissue blood flow was more disturbed in the 30-min ischemia group than in the 15-min ishcemia group. CV4151 improved the recovery of liver tissue blood flow and liver energy level after reperfusion. Ulinastatin also improved the liver energy level, though it did not increase the blood flow. Ulinastatin has protective effects against free radicals, endotoxin and other of cytotoxic agents the effects of this drug might be associated with its cytoprotective properties.

Key words
liver ischemia and reperfusion, energy metabolism, thromboxane A₂ synthetase inhibitor, ulinastatin

Reprint requests
Tsuyoshi Kurokawa Department of Surgery II, Nagoya University School of Medicine
65 Tsurumaicho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466 JAPAN

Accepted
July 6, 1992

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