The effect of pretreatment with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), verapamil, nicergoline and bromocriptine on ischemia-reperfusion injury of rat liver in vivo.

Ergot alkaloids possess some properties potentially beneficial in ischemia of organs. Therefore the effect of pretreatment by nicergoline and bromocriptine was established in ischemia-reperfusion injury of rat liver. PGE2 and verapamil were used as comparative agents. Hepatic ischemia (60 min) of anesthetized rats was induced by clamping of vessels supplying the median and left lateral lobe. Tested drugs were given i.v. 2 or 5 min prior to inducing ischemia. ALT and AST activities in serum two hours after the end of ischemia were used as markers of hepatocellular injury. Only PGE2 (0.1 mg.kg-1) pretreatment minimized the postischemic rise of both ALT and AST activities. Pretreatment with various doses of nicergoline (1 or 4 mg.kg-1), bromocriptine (1 or 4 mg.kg-1) and verapamil (0.9 or 4.5 mg.kg-1) did not influence significantly serum transaminases activities after ischemia. Bromocriptine (4 mg.kg-1) given together with PGE2 did not improve a protective effect against ischemia achieved by the administration of PGE2 (0.1 microgram.kg-1).