Stereological Assessment of the Protective Effect of Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocopherol) on Liver Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury in Rats
Bratislava Medical Journal, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s44411-026-00643-w
- Dergi Adı: Bratislava Medical Journal
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Ischemia–reperfusion (I/R), Liver, Stereology, Vitamin E (Vit E), α-tocopherol
- Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Hepatic ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury is a significant concern in liver transplantation and surgery. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of pre-ischemic vitamin E (vit E; alpha-tocopherol) administration in a rat model using morphometric analysis. Although quantitative studies have demonstrated the protective effects of vit E, qualitative research utilizing stereological methods to assess its specific role in liver I/R injury remains scarce. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control, I/R, and vit E + I/R. The treatment group received 40 mg/kg of vit E intraperitoneally once daily for seven days before ischemia. Following 45 min of hepatic ischemia and 24 h of reperfusion, liver tissues were analyzed histologically. The I/R group displayed significant liver damage, including irregular hepatocytes, dilated central veins, extensive foci of hepatocellular necrosis, and pyknotic hepatocyte nuclei. However, these abnormalities were less pronounced in the vit E + I/R group. Quantitative analysis indicated that the vit E + I/R group had significantly fewer pyknotic hepatocyte nuclei per unit area than the I/R group. Furthermore, the sinusoid-to-liver parenchyma volume ratio decreased from 36% in the I/R group to 32% in the vit E + I/R group, while the lobule area remained statistically unchanged. In conclusion, pre-ischemic administration of vit E attenuated histological and stereological indicators of hepatic I/R injury in this rat model. These findings support prophylactic alpha-tocopherol as a potential adjunctive strategy to mitigate hepatic I/R–related damage in the perioperative or pretransplant setting; however, further mechanistic and translational studies are warranted.