The effects of prostacyclin analog OP-41483 on normothermic liver ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats.

Abstract To estimate the effects of the prostacyclin analog (OP-41483) on normothermic liver ischemia and reperfusion injury, saline (Group 1, N = 8), heparin (group 2, N = 8, 100 u/kg) or OP-41483 (group 3, N = 8, 400 ng/kg/min) was infused intravenously for 30 min before and after liver ischemia in rats. There were no significant differences in survival, or transaminase at 30 min after reperfusion among the three groups. Hepatic vessel flow and tissue flow were measured for the first 30 min after reperfusion. Hepatic tissue flow increased for the first 30 min after reperfusion in the group 3 rats, but not in the groups 2 and 3 rats. There were significant differences in hepatic tissue flow between the groups 1 and 3 rats at 20 min (p