Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Has the Potential to Extend Cold Ischemia Time by Reducing Inflammation and Apoptosis in Rat Livers.

Objectives: Preserving allograft function is crucial for the success of organ transplantation. Although static cold storage helps reduce organ damage, its effectiveness is limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of early and short-term hyperbaric oxygen therapy applied to cold-stored rat liver tissues on inflammation and apoptosis and the potential to extend the tolerable cold ischemia time.

Materials and methods: We collected Wistar rat livers after perfusion and placed them in static cold storage alone or treated them with hyperbaric oxygen for 60 or 120 minutes immediately after placing them in cold storage. Samples were kept in cold storage for 24 hours. We evaluated histological changes by hematoxylin and eosin staining, expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 10 by immunohistochemistry, interleukin 6 gene by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and apoptotic index by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling methods.

Results: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduced development of sinusoidal dilatation but not hydropic degeneration. This treatment also reduced the apoptotic index and expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 10, and interleukin 6 gene (interleukin 6 mRNA). Exceptforinterleukin 6 gene expression, the decreases were more pronounced with hyperbaric oxygen therapy applied for 120 versus 60 minutes. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy partially mitigated histopathological changes in cold-stored livers and exhibited antiapoptotic and cytokine-mediated antiinflammatory effects proportional to the duration of administration.

Conclusions: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in addition to static cold storage, even for a limited period, may contribute to an expanded cold ischemia time and increased allograft survival.