Abstract:

Objective   To investigate the liver ischemiareperfusion (I/R) injury of adult and aged rats. Exogenous human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene was transferred into aged rats′ liver before liver transplantation, and then the effects of the gene on cell apoptosis caused by I/R injury were observed. Methods   Wistar rats were divided into two groups, with adult rats (5 months) in group Ⅰ and aged rats (16~18 months) in group Ⅱ. After transplantation, ALT content, chronic oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation related indicators including vitamin C and vitamin E, the content of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were tested. The aged rats were divided into 3 groups: group A were pretreated with exogenous hTERT gene, group B with adenovirus vector and group C with physiologic saline. The indicators were detected to analyze the effects of exogenous hTERT gene on I/R injury. Results   Contents of vitamin C, vitamin E, SOD, CAT were lower in group Ⅱ than in group Ⅰ (P<0.05); MDA and ALT were higher in group Ⅱ than in group Ⅰ (P<0.05). The apoptotic index and ALT level were significantly lower in group A than in group B and C (P＜0.05), while telomerase activity was increased and histological injury was milder in group A. Conclusion   Compared with that in the adult rats, the I/R injury in aged liver donors were severer. Exogenous hTERT gene induction offers protection against I/R injury in aged liver.

Key words: hTERT gene; Ischemiareperfusion injury; Liver transplantation; Aged rat