Nitrite, a novel method to decrease ischemia/reperfusion injury in the rat liver

Figure 2 Parenchymal (microdialytic), nitrite and nitrate (mean ± SE) in the ischemic liver lobes in rats subjected to 45 min of segmental (left lateral lobe) liver ischemia and 4 h of reperfusion with (nitrite, n = 14) or without (ischemia reperfusion injury, n = 14) intravenous pre-treatment with 480 nmol of nitrite and sham operated animals (n = 8). After the administration of nitrite, the parenchymal nitrite and nitrate (NOx) was higher than for animals that did not receive nitrite (P = 0.031). During ischemia, the levels decreased in both groups and then increased again during reperfusion. After 4 h of reperfusion, there was a trend towards higher levels in animals that were not treated with nitrite (P = 0.067). The shaded area represents the ischemic phase. IRI: Ischemia reperfusion injury.