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Reperfusion injury remains one of the major problems in transplantation. Free radicals and disturbance of microcirculation are the supposed main contributors. Recent evidence shows that Danshen, a traditional Chinese drug used in vascular diseases, can scavenge radicals and improve microcirculation. This study investigates its effect on liver transplantation (LTx). Before organ recovery, female Sprague-Dawley rats (210-240 g) received intravenous Danshen or the same volume of Ringer solution as control. LTx was performed after 1 h of cold storage. Microperfusion, leukocyte-endothelium interaction and latex-bead phagocytosis were evaluated with in vivo microscopy. Survival, transaminases and histology were assessed. Immunohistology was used for TNF-alpha levels. anova and Fisher's exact test were employed for statistical analyses as appropriate. Survival increased from 60% in controls to 100% (P < 0.05). AST and LDH decreased from 3969 +/- 1255 U/l and 15444 +/- 5148 U/l in controls to 1236 +/- 410 U/l and 5039 +/- 1594 U/l, respectively (P < 0.05). In vivo microscopy revealed decreased leukocyte-adherence and increased blood flow velocity in sinusoidal zones after administration of Danshen (P < 0.05), while latex-bead phagocytosis was found in 60% of controls (P < 0.05). The TNF-alpha index decreased from 2.08 +/- 0.09 in controls to 1.09 +/- 0.09 (P < 0.05). This study clearly demonstrates hepatoprotective effects after experimental LTx, which can be explained via anti-oxidative effects, improved microcirculation and decreased Kupffer cell activation.

Summary Danshen (DS) is used for treatment of various ischemic events in the traditional Chinese medicine. Hence, this study was designed to investigate its effect on ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) after experimental kidney transplantation (eKTx). Nephrectomized Sprague–Dawley rats underwent eKTx. Some animals were infused with 1.5 ml DS 10 min before surgery. Kidney grafts were transplanted after cold storage for 20 h in Histidine–Tryptophane–Ketoglutarate solution. After reperfusion blood samples were collected for blood urinary nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alanine transaminase. Further, tissue was assessed for morphologic and pathophysiologic changes. Donor preconditioning with DS (DS-d) significantly decreased BUN, creatinine, LDH, and aspartate aminotransferase to 65–97% of controls while preconditioning of the recipient (DS-r) decreased values to 58–82% (P

Ischemia/reperfusion injury is a major problem in clinical transplantation (Tx). Taurine has been shown to protect liver grafts from ischemia/reperfusion injury after Tx. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate its effect on kidney grafts after transplantation.Various concentrations of taurine were infused before donor nephrectomy (1.5 mL; 30, 100, 300 mM). Controls were given the same volume of Ringers' solution. Subsequently, grafts were cold-stored for 19 h in histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution and transplanted. Six hours after Tx, graft function and injury were assessed with blood urea nitrogen/creatinine and aspartate aminotransferase/lactate dehydrogenase. Graft biopsies were taken to evaluate tubular damage, caspase-3, superoxide dismutase, and heat shock protein 72 (HSP-72) to index necrosis, apoptosis, antioxidative capacity, and regeneration, respectively.Taurine significantly decreased blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase in a dose-dependent manner to up to 71%, 69%, 51%, and 53% of controls, respectively. Further, tubular damage and caspase-3 expression decreased to 44% and 18% of control values (P0.01), while superoxide dismutase and heat shock protein 72 expression increased by 95% and 77% of controls, respectively (P0.05).This study demonstrates that donor preconditioning with taurine protects kidney grafts from injury (apoptosis, necrosis), improves graft function, and increases the regenerative potential most likely via mechanisms including antioxidation.