OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of atractylodes macrocephalaon polysaccharides (AMP) intervention for reducing liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats after orthotopic liver autotransplantation.

METHODSSD rat I/R injured model was established by liver autotransplantation. SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: the model group, the AMP group and the sham-operated group. They were infused with saline, AMP and saline respectively after operation, and killed in batches at different time points (1, 6 and 24 h after operation), for determining blood levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and detecting the expression of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) in liver tissue by immunohistochemical method. The pathological examination of liver was performed as well.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, in the AMP group at any time points after operation, the serum levels of ALT, AST, DBIL, TBIL and MDA were lower and of SOD were higher (P < 0.05); the elevated expression of NF-kappaB was weakened (P < 0.05), and the pathologic changes (liver congestion, swelling, hepatocyte necrosis and portal area inflammation cell infiltration) were lessened.

CONCLUSIONAMP could reduce the post-transplantation liver I/R injury in rats, which might be associated with its effects on inhibiting NF-kappaB expression, intervening membrane destruction of liver cells by free oxygen radicals, suppressing enzyme, and alleviating morphological damages of liver.