The Effect of Glucocorticoid Treatment on the Release of Acid Hydrolases from the Dearterialized Pig Liver

Abstract

In vitro glucocorticoids are known to exert a membrane stabilizing effect on the cell membrane and to intracellular organelles. Treatment with these drugs has, therefore, been suggested for protection of the hypoxic liver during various procedures. With the use of the hepatic dearterialization in the pig as an experimental model for hepatic ischemia the plasma activity of the acid hydrolases glucosidase ?-galactosidase, and SGOT were studied after pre treatment with glucocorticoids. In control pigs dearterialization caused a typical pattern of plasma enzyme increase. Treatment with glucocorticoids before the hepatic dearterialization did not diminish the plasma enzyme reactions. The steroid-treated animals showed a significantly higher activity of all the investigated enzymes. Hepatic histopathology and the tissue activity of the liver enzymes were not clearly modified by the steroid treatment. Thus, in this type of hepatic ischemia treatment with glucocorticoids does not seem to protect the hypoxic liver. Possibly it might even be detrimental as judged from the ezyme reactions.