OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Radix salviae miltiorrhizae as a cold reperfusion solution on donor liver ischemia-reperfusion injury and hepatocyte apoptosis in rat models of orthotopic liver transplantation.

METHODSForty male SD rats were randomly divided into miltiorrhizae group, control group and sham operation group. For cold preservation of the graft, miltiorrhizae-containing Ringer's lactate solution was used as the reperfusion and preservation solution in the miltiorrhizae group, and only Ringer's lactate solution was used in the control group. All the grafts were preserved for 5 h before orthotopic transplantation. Six hours after graft reperfusion, the recipient rats were sacrificed, and the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured, and the changes of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the liver graft were observed. The hepatocyte apoptosis was detected using TUNEL, with the histopathological changes observed under light and electron microscopes.

RESULTSSerum ALT and AST levels were significantly lower in miltiorrhizae group than in the control group after graft reperfusion (P<0.01). Compared with the sham operation group, the apoptotic index and MDA levels in the graft was significantly decreased, while SOD and GSH-PX levels increased in miltiorrhizae group (P<0.01). Histopathological changes were obviously milder in miltiorrhizae group than in the sham operation group.

CONCLUSIONRadix salviae miltiorrhizae can protect the hepatocytes from cold preservation and reperfusion-induced apoptosis and significantly alleviates ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat liver graft after orthotopic transplantation.