OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of repeated hypoxic preconditioning (RHP) on renal ischemia-reperfusion-induced hepatic dysfunction in rats and the underlying mechanism.

METHODSA total of 120 normal SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=40), namely RHP surgical group, RHP sham-operated (RHPS) group, nonhypoxic surgical group (IRI group), and nonhypoxic sham-operated group (S group). The rats in the hypoxic groups were exposed to hypoxia in a hypoxic chamber for 5 days prior to establishment of renal ischemia-reperfusion model by resection of the right kidney and clamping the left renal hilum. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), IL-17 A, TNF-a, liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide (NO) were detected at 2, 8 and 24h after reperfusion, and Western blotting was used to determine the expression of p-PI3K and p-AKT;HE staining was used to observe the structural changes in the liver.

RESULTSCompared with IRI group, RHP group showed significantly milder hepatic damage, lower ALT levels and higher NO levels at 2, 8, and 24 after reperfusion (P<0.05); TNF-a levels were lowered at 24 h (P<0.05) and SOD increased at 8 h after the reperfusion (P<0.05). Compared with S group, IRI group and RHP group showed significantly higher IL-17A levels (P<0.05) but without significant difference between the latter two groups (P>0.05). The expressions of p-PI3K and P-Al

CONCLUSIONRepeated hypoxic preconditioning can attenuate hepatic injury induced by renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.