[Animal modeling] - Study on the effect of dexmedetomidine combined with sufentanil on pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

  Objective To investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine combined with sufentanil on pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI) in rats.

  Methods SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, sufentanil treatment group, dexmedetomidine treatment group and sufentanil+dexmedetomidine treatment group. Except the sham operation group, the rats in the other four groups were given 20 μ G/kg sufentanil, 25 two μ G/kg dexmedetomidine and 20 μ G/kg sufentanil+25 two μ G/kg dexmedetomidine, and then establish LIRI model. After the test, the lung tissue structure was observed by HE staining and TUNEL staining, the mitochondrial damage of lung cells was observed by electron microscopy, the levels of SOD and MDA in lung tissue were detected by ELISA, and the levels of LC3B, Beclin1, ATG5, HO-1 and Nrf-2 protein in lung tissue were detected by Western blot.

  Result 20 μ G/kg sufentanil and 25 two μ G/kg dexmedetomidine and its combined use improved lung tissue injury in LIRI rats, reduced lung cell apoptosis, reduced mitochondrial swelling of lung cells, and decreased the expression of SOD and MDA. In addition, it also decreased the expression of LC3B - Ⅱ, Beclin1, ATG5 protein and the ratio of LC3B - Ⅱ/LC3B - Ⅰ, and increased the expression of LC3B - Ⅰ, Nrf-2, HO-1 protein, of which 20 μ G/kg sufentanil compound 25 two μ G/kg dexmedetomidine performed best in the three treatment groups.

  Conclusion Dextretomidine, sufentanil and their combination can effectively protect LIRI in rats. Dextretomidine and sufentanil have synergistic effects on improving LIRI in rats, which may be related to activating Nrf-2/HO-1 antioxidant stress pathway and inhibiting excessive autophagy.