Objective To investigate the effect of Ligustrazine on the apoptosis of hepatocytes and expression of regulating gene during
cold preservation and reperfusion injury in rat orthotopic liver trans-plantation(OLT). Methods Twelve couples of SD male rats,weighed 180～250 g,were randomized into the experimental group and control group.Perfusing and preserving solution were Ligustrazine Ringer's lactate solution in the experimental group and Ringer's lactate solution without Ligustrazine in the control group.All grafts were preserved for 4 hours then transplanted orthotopically.Six hours after reperfusion,the recipients were sacrificed,serum ALT、AST、LDH were measured,apoptosis of the hepatocytes was analyzed by TUNEL and FCM;bcl-2 levels were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results Serum ALT、AST、LDH levels in the experimental group were
significantly lower than those in the control group.In TUNEL and FCM analysis,the number of apoptosis in hepatocytes in the control group was markedly increased compared with that in the experimental group.Immunohistochemistry study showed the bcl-2 level in control group was significantly lower than that in experimental group.Conclusion Ligustrazine can significantly decrease ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat
liver transplantation.The mechanism may be Ligustrazine attenuate apoptosis of the hepatocytes caused by inducing bcl-2 overexpression.