Topic liver hypothermia and ischemic preconditioning: a new model of ischemia and reperfusion in rats.

Abstract

PURPOSE: Evaluation of the Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) and body temperature changes in a new model of liver ischemia-reperfusion applying topical Hypothermia and Ischemic Preconditioning (IPC). METHODS: Rats (n= 32) were divided in 5 groups: Control (C), Normothermic Ischemia (NI), Ischemic Preconditioning (IPC), Hypothermia 26 degrees C plus IPC (H+IPC) and Hypothermia 26 degrees C (H). MAP and body temperature were recorded at 30 minutes intervals throughout the entire experiment. The study groups underwent 90 minutes partial hepatic ischemia followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion. The median and lateral left lobes were isolated and topical 26 degrees C hypothermia was induced by superfusion of cooled saline solution in H+IPC and H groups. A 10 minutes protocol of ischemia and reperfusion was applied in the IPC and H+IPC groups before the major ischemic insult. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in MAP and body temperature means between the groups throughout the experiments. CONCLUSION: The present model allows the induction of topical hepatic hypothermia associated or not to IPC. New studies to evaluate the possible synergistic effects of these tools can be reproduced without significant changes in macrohemodynamics and body temperature, or in other words, under stable conditions.