Objective: To study the mechanism of hepatocellular glycogen in alleviation of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury during hepatic vascular occlusion for partial hepatectomy.
Methods: Seventeen patients were randomly divided into experimental group (n=9) and control group (n=8). In the experimental group, patients were given high concentration glucose intravenously during 24 hours before operation. The hepatic lesion was resected after portal triad clamping in the two groups. Non-cancer liver tissue was biopsied to measure hepatic tissue ATP content and change of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Liver function of all patients was assessed before operation and the first and fifth day after operation.
Results: Hepatic tissue ATP content of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group both at the end of hepatic vascular occlusion and the point of one-hour reperfusion. Besides, liver function of the experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group the first and fifth day after operation. There was significant difference in SOD activity or MDA content between the two groups at the end of hepatic vascular occlusion and at the point of one-hour reperfusion.
Conclusions: Abundant intracellular glycogen may reduce liver ischemia-reperfusion injury caused by hepatic vascular occlusion. It is beneficial to give a large amount of glucose before a complex liver operation, in which temporary occlusion of hepatic blood flow is necessary.