The Protective Effect of Zinc Against Liver Ischaemia Reperfusion Injury in a Rat Model of Global Ischaemia

Abstract

Background: Ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major obstacle during liver transplantation and resection surgeries for cancer, with a need for effective and safe drugs to reduce IRI. Zinc preconditioning has been shown to protect against liver IRI in a partial (70%) ischaemia model. However, its efficacy against a clinically relevant Pringle manoeuvre that results in global liver ischaemia (100%) is unknown. Aims: The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of zinc preconditioning in a rat model of global liver ischaemia. Methods: Rats were preconditioned via subcutaneous injection of 10 mg/kg of ZnCl2, 24 h and 4 h before ischaemia. Total liver ischaemia (100%) was induced by placin..