Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) Therapy after Partial Hepatectomy: An Experimental Study on Oxidative Stress in Rats

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the effects of HBO therapy on oxidant and antioxidant status, and some  histopathological parameters after partial hepatectomy in rats. There were three main experimental groups.  The first group was sham (S) group (n=12), the second group was partial hepatectomized (PH) group  (n=24) and the third group was after partial hepatectomy HBO-treated group (PH+HBO) (n=24). The HBO  therapy was started the same day as partial hepatectomy for the PH+HBO group. Three subgroups (n=8)  were assigned from the PH and HBO groups. The first, the second and the third subgroups were selected  randomly, separated from the main groups and killed 2 days, 4 days and 7 days after partial hepatectomy  respectively. Randomized selection from the main experimental groups and killing of the animals were  done on the same day. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), mitotic index (MI),  proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) levels and mean of cells with double nuclei were assessed. In the  PH+HBO group, MDA and NO levels were decreased and MI, PCNA, GSH levels were increased significantly  compared to the PH group. HBO therapy could activate antioxidant response and reduce oxidant  activity after partial hepatectomy.