Effects of the free radical scavenger dimethyl sulphoxide on experimental normothermic ischaemia of the liver

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study assessed the effects of intermittent or continuous hepatic ischaemia and reperfusion with or without dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) pre-treatment in a rat ischaemic model. METHODS: One hundred and eighty rats were divided into three groups undergoing hepatic ischaemia of a total duration of 60, 90 and 120 min. Each group of rats was subdivided to receive either a continuous Pringle manoeuvre or intermittent liver pedicle clamping of 30 or 15 min. Ten minutes before ischaemia induction, 10 rats from each group were pre-treated with DMSO (500 mg/kg, b.w.) intravenously. RESULTS: With continuous hepatic pedicle clamping, survival rates inversely correlated with the duration of ischaemia, with greater survival in the intermittently clamped groups (p < 0.05). DMSO pre-treatment did not affect survival but resulted in a significant reduction in liver enzyme (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase) release on the first postoperative day following total ischaemic times of 90 min or greater (p < 0.05). After 120 min of total ischaemia, DMSO pre-treatment resulted in higher preservation of adenosine 5'-triphosphate liver content (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: DMSO may be used to prolong tolerance to inflow occlusion and to limit the adverse effects of ischaemia and reperfusion cycles in an experimental hepatic ischaemia model.