LAUSR

BACKGROUND Obstructive jaundice (OJ) could seriously affect the biochemical and immune functions in the body. Up to now, there are still poor evidences about the role of dexmedetomidine in OJ. METHODS Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Sham operation group (Sham group, n = 10), obstructive jaundice group (OJ group, n = 10), OJ + dexmedetomidine group (D group, n = 10), OJ+ dexmedetomidine +LY294002 group (DL group, n = 10). The expressions of phospho-Akt(p-Akt), HIF-1α(hypoxia inducible factor-1α), Akt mRNA, HIF-1αmRNA, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in different groups were evaluated. RESULTS The lung injury score was decreased in OJ group compared with that in DL group. The expression of the HIF-1α protein, p-Akt protein, Akt mRNA, and HIF-1α mRNA in OJ group were significantly increased (p <0.05) (vs. S group). Meanwhile, these protein molecular were significantly higher in the D group than that in OJ group (p <0.05). However, the mRNA expressions of these molecular in OJ group were significantly lower than that in D group (p <0.05). The concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α in OJ group and D group was significantly up-regulated compared with that in S group (p <0.05). Meanwhile, IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations were significantly up-regulated in DL group compared with that in group D (p <0.05). The concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly decreased in the D group and DL group compared with that in OJ group (p <0.05). CONCLUSION Dexmedetomidine can attenuate lung injury in obstructive jaundice rats through PI3K/Akt/HIF-1α signaling pathway. Meanwhile, dexmedetomidine can reduce the concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α in obstructive jaundice rats.