Abstract:Objective To study the protective effects and mechanisms of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) post-conditioning in liver graft ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods The liver transplantation rat model was used as ischemia-reperfusion injury animal model. The rats were randomly divided into three groups: ischemic reperfusion injury group (IRI), postconditional PGE1 treated group (PGE1) and sham operated group (S). The liver functional tests, SOD, MDA, TNF-α expression level and the histology were checked at 2 h and 6 h after reperfusion. Results The ALT, AST, MDA in serum and TNF-α expression level in liver were significantly lower in PGE1 group than in IRI group (P < 0.05), the SOD was higher in the PGE1 group (P < 0.05). The tissue damage was significantly decreased in PGE1 group. Conclusions Prostaglandin E1 postconditioning has significant protective effect in ischemia-reperfusion injury, and part of those benefit effects dependent on decreased TNF-α expression level and increased SOD production.