Mechanisms of Protection of Hepatocytes at Anoxia and Reoxygenation by the Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor Oxypurinol

Oxygen-free radicals generated during postischemic reperfusion are thougt to be responsible for the damage which occurs on reoxygenation. However, the participation of free oxygen radicals on reperfusion injury in liver is still controversial,1,2 including the effects of xanthine oxidase inhibitors allopurinol and oxipurinol. The enzyme release which occurs upon reperfusion in the ischemic perfused rat liver was decreased by allopurinol.3,4 In contrast, allopurinol had no appreciable effect on recovery of the ATP level in ischemic perfused rat liver during reoxygenation.5 The discussion was stimulated since a radical scavinging activity of allopurinol and oxipurinol was prescribed.6,7