The effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on oxidant and antioxidants levels during liver regeneration in rats

Tohoku J Exp Med. 2004 Aug;203(4):253-65. doi: 10.1620/tjem.203.253.

Abstract

The effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on oxidant/antioxidant metabolism are controversial and its effects on hepatic regeneration are not known. In this study, we investigated a possible beneficial effect of HBO therapy on oxidant and antioxidants levels during liver regeneration. To conduct this study, seventy percent hepatectomy was performed on forty-eight Spraggue-Dawley rats and the rats were divided into two equal groups: HBO-treated group and untreated group (non-HBO group). We determined the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative stress marker, and the levels of antioxidant enzymes/reagents, including glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in the remnant liver samples. We also measured mitotic index (MI) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) levels to assess the degree of liver regeneration. HBO treatment significantly decreased MDA levels, whereas it increased SOD activity, GSH and Zn levels. In contrast, Cu levels were lower in the HBO-treated livers than the levels in the untreated remnant livers. The effect of HBO treatment may be mediated by the suppression of certain enzymes that are responsible for lipid peroxidation. In addition, HBO treatment may induce the production of antioxidant enzymes/reagents by remnant liver tissues. The HBO-treated rats maintained their body weights but the untreated rats lost body weights. HBO treatment also increased MI and PCNA levels, indicating HBO treatment enhances liver regeneration. These results indicate that HBO treatment has beneficial effects on liver regeneration by decreasing MDA and by increasing antioxidant activities. We therefore suggest that HBO therapy may be useful after liver resection.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / analysis*
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Body Weight
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / analysis
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Hyperbaric Oxygenation*
  • Liver Regeneration*
  • Malondialdehyde / analysis
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • Mitotic Index
  • Oxidants / analysis*
  • Oxidants / metabolism
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / analysis
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Superoxide Dismutase / analysis
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / analysis
  • Time Factors
  • Zinc / analysis
  • Zinc / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Oxidants
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Zinc