Protective effect of ozone treatment on the injury associated with hepatic ischemia-reperfusion: Antioxidant-prooxidant balance

Abstract

The effects of ozone treatment on the injury associated to hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) was evaluated. Ozone treatment (1 mg/kg daily during 10 days by rectal insufflation) is shown to be protective as it attenuated the increases in transaminases (AST, ALT) and lactate levels observed after I/R. I/R leads to a decrease in endogenous antioxidant (SOD and glutathione) and an increase in reactive oxygen species (H₂O₂) with respect to the control group. However, ozone treatment results in a preservation (glutathione) or increase (SOD) in antioxidant defense and maintains H₂O₂ at levels comparable to those in the control group. The present study reports a protective effect of ozone treatment on the injury associated to hepatic I/R. The effectiveness of ozone could be related to its action on endogenous antioxidants and prooxidants balance in favour of antioxidants, thus attenuating oxidative stress.

Keywords:

• Ozone
• ischemia-reperfusion
• reactive oxygen species
• superoxide dismutase
• glutathione