EFFECTS OF LEPTIN ON HEPATIC ISCHEMIA/REPERFUSION DAMAGE IN RATS

Dr. Turan Pehl?van* and Dr. Hakan Y?g?tbas

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The liver is inevitably exposed to ischemia during transplantation, trauma, surgical interventions, and vascular pathologies. Recent studies have shown that leptin has protective effects against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the pancreas, stomach, and kidneys. In our study, we investigated the effects of leptin on liver I/R injury. Methods: For this purpose, 32 Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 250-300 grams were randomized into four groups. Group I (Control Group, n=8), Group II (I/R Group) underwent 45 minutes of liver ischemia followed by 45 minutes of reperfusion (n=8), Group III (Leptin Group, n=8), and Group IV (Leptin + I/R Group, n=8). Intracardiac blood samples were taken from all subjects to measure serum levels of Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine Transaminase (ALT), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrite, and leptin. Following blood collection, the rats were decapitated. The liver tissues from each group were divided into two equal parts. One part was stored at -70°C for the measurement of MDA, Reduced Glutathione (GSH), leptin, and nitrite, while the other part was preserved in a 10% formaldehyde solution for histopathological examination. Results: The tests indicated that leptin has protective effects against liver ischemia-reperfusion injury, reduces lipid peroxidation, and diminishes histopathological damage in the liver. It is suggested that leptin may exert these protective effects by increasing nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. Conclusion: Administering leptin in liver ischemia-reperfusion injury appears to prevent or reduce tissue damage by decreasing Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and/or increasing NO synthesis. Therefore, leptin seems to be a promising agent for future applications in liver-related pathologies.

Keywords: Leptin, Hepatic I/R, GSH.