AIM: To investigate the effect of Matrine on the
apoptosis of hepatocytes and
expression of regulating gene during cold preservation
and reperfusion injury in rat orthotopic liver trans-plantation (OLT).METHODS: Eighty-four syngeneic SD rats were randomly divided into control, Matrine, and pseudo-
treatment group. The rats in Matrine group were treated with low (40 mg/kg) and high dose (80 mg/kg) of Matrine, respectively. After the donor liver was preserved in Ringer’s (LR) solution for 5 h, the orthotopic implantation was performed. Four and 24 h after reperfusionof the portal vein, the serum and tissue samples were collected for analysis. The cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL, and the
expression of Fas-L and Bcl-2 protein were determined by flow cytometry. The histopathological changes were observed under light and electron microscope.RESULTS: In comparison with that in the control group, the apoptosis index was significantly de-creased in low and high dose Matrine treatment group (6.07 ± 1.68, 6.17 ± 0.83 vs 14.87 ± 2.10, P < 0.01), while the level of Bcl-2 expression was markedly elevated (59.32 ± 14.09, 58.90 ± 16.70 vs 17.00 ± 8.01, P < 0.01). The expression of FasL was not notably different between the control and Matrine group. The apoptosis index, Bcl-2 and FasL expression had no distinct difference between low and high dose treatment group either. The pathological changes of liver cells were severe in the control group, but they were obviously ameliorated in Matrine group.CONCLUSION: Matrine can protect hepatocyts against apoptosis by inhibiting the Bcl-2 express-ion during cold preservation and reperfusion injury.