Open AccessArticle
Hepatocellular Early Apoptosis Associated with HES 130/0.4 Administration for Volume Replacement in Pigs After Severe Bleeding
by
Helena Vala, Ana I. Faustino-Rocha, Rita Cruz, Carlos Venâncio, Aura Silva, João R. Mesquita, Ana Liza Ortiz and David A. Ferreira
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(9), 787; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12090787 (registering DOI) - 22 Aug 2025
Abstract
Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 is commonly used for volume replacement, yet its hepatic effects in the context of acute haemorrhage remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate hepatic histopathological changes related to HES 130/0.4 administration when compared to Ringer’s lactate (RL) in healthy
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Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 is commonly used for volume replacement, yet its hepatic effects in the context of acute haemorrhage remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate hepatic histopathological changes related to HES 130/0.4 administration when compared to Ringer’s lactate (RL) in healthy pigs subjected to acute bleeding under general anaesthesia. Eighteen pigs were randomised into three groups: RL (
n = 6), HES 130/0.4 (
n = 6), and a non-bleeding control (
n = 6). Liver tissue was collected postmortem and analysed using haematoxylin–eosin staining, cytochrome c immunohistochemistry, the TUNEL assay, and M30 immunofluorescence. No statistically significant differences were observed in general histopathological changes, TUNEL, or cytochrome c expression (
p > 0.050). However, the pigs that received HES 130/0.4 for volume replacement showed significantly higher intensity of the liver M30 immunostaining in the Q-score (
p < 0.010), H-score (
p < 0.010), and c indexc index (
p < 0.050) when compared to animals that received Ringer’s lactate solution or animals in the control group. These findings suggest that HES 130/0.4 induces increased early hepatocellular apoptosis when compared to RL in this model, raising concerns about its hepatic safety profile under haemorrhagic conditions.
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