OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) after ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: twenty four rats were divided into four groups: Control, submitted to anesthesia and liver biopsy; Sham, receiving injection of heparin through the vena cava and hepatic pedicle dissection, with liver biopsy after 24 hours; Ischemia-30, the same as Sham group, plus hepatic pedicle clamping for 30 minutes; and Ischemia-90, the same procedure of Ischemia-30 group, but with clamping period of 90 minutes. After 24 hours of observation, the animals underwent laparotomy and we evaluated their livers macroscopically, microscopically by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and analyzed the expression of GFAP by Western Blotting. RESULTS: There was no difference in the gross appearance of the livers between the different experimental groups, all having demonstrated normal morphology. HE analysis showed no significant differences with respect to lobule morphology. On the other hand, in the ischemia groups we observed neutrophilic infiltrates and small areas of necrosis. GFAP expression was similar in all groups, either qualitatively and quantitatively. CONCLUSION: The expression of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein did not change in our model of ischemia-reperfusion.
Ischemia; Reperfusion injury; Liver; Glial fibrillary acidic protein; Immunohistochemistry
