PURPOSE: To determine the effect of hyperbaric hyperoxia as hepatic preconditioning on hepatocellular integrity in rats submitted to intermittent hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury. METHODS: Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (SHAM, I/R, HBO-I/R and CONTROL). The surgical technique consisted of total clamping of the hepatic pedicle for 15 min, followed by reperfusion for 5 min, performed twice. The application of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) was carried out in a collective chamber (simultaneous exposure of 4 rats) pressurized directly with oxygen at 2 ATA for 60 min. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined and blood samples were collected for the determination of serum AST and ALT levels. Data were analyzed statistically by the Mann-Whitney test, with the level of significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in MDA (p< 0.05) was observed between control and HBO-I/R, but not between control and I/R. Regarding AST, there was a difference between control and I/R and HBO-I/R. Analysis of ALT revealed a significant difference between control and I/R (p<0.05) and between I/R and HBO-I/R, with no difference between control and HBO-IR. CONCLUSION: Hyperoxic preconditioning proved to be favorable regarding alanine transaminase, but not aspartate aminotranserase or malondialdehyde levels.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos da oxigenoterapia hiperbárica (HBO), como pré-condicionamento, em lesão hepática de isquemia/reperfusão intermitente. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 36 ratos Wistar machos, distribuídos em 4 grupos (SHAM, I/R , HBO - I/R e CONTROLE). A técnica operatória consistiu em pinçamento total do pedículo hepático durante 15min, seguido de reperfusão por 5 min (desclampeamento), por duas vezes. A aplicação de HBO foi realizada em câmara coletiva (exposição simultânea de 4 ratos) diretamente pressurizada com oxigênio a 2ATA, durante 60min. Determinou-se a função mitocondrial hepática através de amostras do lobo mediano colhidas com exatos 5min de reperfusão para análise da respiração mitocondrial, através da determinação dos estados 3 e 4, razão de controle respiratório e transição de permeabilidade mitocondrial (intumescimento osmótico - swelling mitocondrial).Os resultados foram analisados pelo teste de Mann-Whitney e foi considerado significativo todo valor de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Houve diferença estatistica significativa (p< 0,05) no Estado 3 nos grupos CONTROLE vs I/R e HBO - I/R, no Estado 4 nos grupos CONTROLE vs I/R e HBO - I/R; na Razão de controle respiratório(RCR) nos grupos CONTROLE vs I/R e HBO-IRe CONTROLE vs Sham e no Swelling mitocondrial nos grupos CONTROLE vs I/R e HBO - I/R, I/R vs HBO-IRe Sham vs I/R e HBO-IR. CONCLUSÃO: O pré-condicionamento hiperbárico não melhorou a função mitocondrial hepática significativamente neste processo de isquemia e reperfusão intermitente.

PURPOSE: to assess the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) as pre-conditioning on periodic liver ischemia/reperfusion injury. METHODS: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (SHAM, I/R , HBO-I/R and CONTROL). The surgical technique consisted of total clamping of the hepatic pedicle for 15 min followed by twice repeated reperfusion for 5 min (unclamping). HBO was applied in a collective chamber (simultaneous exposure of 4 rats) directly pressurized with oxygen at 2 ATA for 60 min. Hepatic mitochondrial function was determined using samples of the median lobe obtained after exactly 5 min of reperfusion for the analysis of mitochondrial respiration based on the determination of states 3 and 4, the respiratory control ratio and the transition of mitochondrial permeability (mitochondrial swelling).Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference (p< 0.05) in state 3 between the CONTROL and I/R and HBO-I/R groups, in state 4 between the CONTROL and I/R and HBO-I/R groups; in respiratory control ratio (RCR) between the CONTROL and I/R and HBO-I/R groups and between the CONTROL and Sham groups, and in mitochondrial swelling between the CONTROL and I/R and HBO-/R groups and between the Sham and I/R and HBO-I/R groups. CONCLUSION: In this process of periodic ischemia and reperfusion, hyperbaric pre-conditioning did not improve significantly hepatic mitochondrial function.