Background: Quercetin-5'-sulfonic acid sodium salt (NaQSA) exerts good aqueous solubility, strong antioxidant activity and low toxicity.
Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of NaQSA on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and ADMA/DDAH pathway during extracorporeal liver perfusion (ELP).
Material and methods: The study was carried out on male Wistar rats. Isolated livers were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (KHB) + 1 microM ADMA (group C), or with KHB + 1 microM ADMA and either 10 microM NaQSA (Q10) or 50 microM NaQSA (Q50). In group 0 (sham) livers were perfused with KHB alone. Levels of ADMA, alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST) aminotransferases activities were measured during perfusion. After 90 min. of perfusion superoxide dismutase (SOD) and dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) activities were estimated in liver homogenates.
Results: DDAH activity in Q10 group was significantly higher as compared to control and Q50 groups. No significant differences were observed between Q50 and control group. The decrease in ADMA concentration during perfusion was observed in all groups, but the most pronounced in the group Q10 and the least in group Q50. During perfusion AST activities were the lowest in Q50 group. No significant difference in SOD activity in groups perfused with NaQSA as compared to control group was noted.
Conclusions: The impact of NaQSA on ADMA/DDAH system depends on its concentration. In lower concentration NaQSA exerted some beneficial properties which vanished in higher concentration. No increase in SOD activity during perfusion with NaQSA was observed.