Dexmedetomidine activates the PI3K/Akt pathway to inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis in rats with obstructive jaundice.

Dexmedetomidine activates the PI3K/Akt pathway to inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis in rats with obstructive jaundice. Exp Ther Med. 2019 Dec;18(6):4461-4466 Authors: Xie Y, Guo C, Liu Y, Shi L, Yu J Abstract Obstructive jaundice (OJ) is a common disease in clinical surgery. The present study aimed to determine the effects of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on hepatocyte apoptosis in rats with OJ and also to explore the underlying mechanism. A total of 30 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: Sham group, bile duct ligation (BDL) group, and BDL+Dex group. The serum liver function index, expression levels of serum inflammatory factor interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and the liver pathological changes were compared amongst groups. The serum liver function index and expression levels of inflammatory factors in the BDL group and BDL+Dex group were higher compared with the sham group. The serum liver function index and expression levels of inflammatory factors were lower in the BDL+Dex group compared with the BDL group. The severity of hepatic injury was diminished in the BDL+Dex group compared with the BDL group. Compared with the sham group, the hepatocyte apoptosis rate increased significantly in the BDL group and BDL+Dex group. The present findings suggested that Dex improved the liver function of rats with OJ, reduced the production of inflammatory factors and inhibited the apoptosis of hepato...
Source: Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine - Category: General Medicine Tags: Exp Ther Med Source Type: research