Reperfusion injury after critical intestinal ischemia and its correction with perfluorochemical emulsion ＂perftoran＂

AIM: To investigate the anti-ischemic properties of perfluorochemical emulsion "perftoran" in mesenteric region. METHODS: Experiments were conducted on 146 nonlinear white male rats weighing 200-350 g. Partial critical intestinal ischemia was induced by thorough atraumatic strangulation of 5-6 cm jejunal loop with its mesentery for 90 min. Global critical intestinal ischemia was made by atraumatic occlusion of the cranial mesenteric artery (CMA) for 90 min also. Perftoran (PF, 0.8-1.0 mL per 100 g) in experimental groups or 0.9% sodium chloride in control groups was injected at 75 min of ischemic period. Mean systemic arterial blood pressure (BPM) registration, intravital microscopy and morphological examination of ischemic intestine and its mesentery were performed in both groups. RESULTS: During 90 min of reperfusion, BPM progressively decreased to 27.3±7.4% after PF administration vs 38.6±8.0% in the control group of rats with partial intestinal ischemia (NS) and to 50.3±6.9% vs 53.1±5.8% in rats after global ischemia (NS). During the reperfusion period, full restoration of microcirculation was never registered; parts with restored blood flow had leukocyte and erythrocyte stasis and intra-vascular clotting, a typical "non-reflow" phenomenon. The reduction of mesenteric 50-400 μm feeding artery diameter was significantly less in the PF group than in the control group (24±5.5% vs 45.2±3.6%, P<0.05) 5 min after partial intestinal ischemia. This decrease progressed but differences between groups minimized at the 90th min of reperfusion (41.5±4.2% and 50.3±2.8%, respectively). In reperfusion of rat's intestine, a significant mucosal alteration was registered. Villous height decreased 2.5-3 times and the quantity of crypts decreased more than twice. In the group of rats administered PF, intestinal mucosal layer was protected from irreversible post-ischemic derangement during reperfusion. Saved cryptal epithelial cells were the source of regeneration of the epithelium, which began to cover renewing intestinal villi after 24 h of blood flow restoration. View of morphological alterations was more heterogeneous in CMA groups. CONCLUSION: Systemic administration of perftoran promotes earlier and more complete structural regeneration during reperfusion in rats after partial and global critical intestinal ischemia.     

Alterations in intestinal permeability and blood flow in a new model of mesenteric ischemia.

Disturbances in intestinal circulation for even short periods of time can produce mucosal injury, translocation of gut bacteria, and multiple organ failure. We recently reported a model of intestinal ischemia that included occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and interruption of collateral arcades from the right colic and jejunal arteries for 20 min. This present study was designed to characterize further our model of intestinal ischemia by quantitatively assessing changes in intestinal permeability (plasma to luminal clearance of 51Cr-labeled EDTA) and intestinal blood flow (IBF) (microspheres). A total of 89 rats were included for study; mean arterial blood pressure and acid-base balance were not significantly altered by intestinal ischemia or reperfusion. Baseline measurements of 51Cr-labeled EDTA were not significantly different among the experimental animals, and clearance did not change throughout the experimental period in the sham-ischemic group (N = 14). Clearance of 51Cr-labeled EDTA at the end of 20 min of intestinal ischemia (0.194 +/- 0.057 ml/min/100 gm, N = 17) was significantly greater than that measured at control (0.079 +/- 0.006 ml/min/100 gm, P less than 0.05). In addition, clearance measurements during reperfusion (20 min, 0.362 +/- 0.051; 60 min, 0.267 +/- 0.084 ml/min/gm) were significantly higher than those measured at the end of ischemia. Baseline IBF was similar in all rats (N = 42); SMA occlusion reduced IBF by 99% from baseline (from 1.4 +/- 0.27 to 0.014 +/- 0.001 ml/min/gm, N = 20). Removal of the SMA clip returned intestinal perfusion to baseline values (1.72 +/- 0.51 ml/min/g).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Toll样受体参与小鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤

目的探讨Toll样受体是否参与小鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤及其机制. 方法用Toll样受体缺损小鼠(C3H/Hej,Hej组)和野生型(C3H/Heouj,Heouj组)小鼠复制部分肝脏缺血再灌注损伤模型,于缺血45min,再灌注1h和3h处死动物,检测血清天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)和血清肿瘤坏死因子α(TNFα)的含量;并以northern blot及髓过氧化物酶(MPO)试验分别检测缺血肝组织TNFα mRNA的表达和MPO的含量. 结果 (1)再灌注1、3h,与假手术组相比,小鼠血浆AST明显升高,但Hej组明显低于Heouj组(661.83U/L±106.09U/L和1215.5U/L±174.03U/L,t＝-6.65,P<0.01;1145.17U/L±132.43U/L和2958.17U/L±186.81U/L,t＝-5.57,P<0.01);(2)再灌注3h时,与假手术组相比,Hej组和Heouj组小鼠血清TNFα浓度明显升高,且前者明显低于后者(152.39pg/ml±43.3pg/ml和249.12pg/ml±51.89pg/ml,t＝-3.13,P<0.05);(3)再灌注1h,除假手术组外,Hej组和Heouj组小鼠缺血肝组织内可见TNFα mRNA的表达,但前者的表达水平明显低于后者,杂交带密度分析显示两者之间差异有显著性 (80.3±28.8与189.4±24.6,t＝-3.25,P<0.05);(4)再灌注3h,与假手术组相比,Hej组和Heouj组小鼠缺血肝组织内MPO含量明显升高,且前者含量明显低于后者(0.059±0.004和0.173±0.025,F＝33.49,P<0.01). 结论 Toll样受体可能通过其介导的炎性通路参与了小鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤.     

Lansoprazole ameliorates intestinal mucosal damage induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats

AIM:To investigate the protective effect of lansoprazoleon ischemia and reperfusion(I/R)-induced rat intestinalmucosal injury in vivo.METHODS:Intestinal damage was induced by clampingboth the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac trunkfor 30 rain followed by reperfusion in male Sprague-Dawleyrats.Lansoprazole was given to rats intraperitoneally 1 hbefore vascular clamping.RESULTS:Both the intraluminal hemoglobin and proteinlevels,as indices of mucosal damage,significantlyincreased in I/R-groups comparion with those of sham-operation groups.These increases in intraluminal hemoglobinand protein levels were significantly inhibited by the treatmentwith lansoprazole at a dose of 1 mg/kg.Small intestineexposed to I/R resulted in mucosal inflammation that wascharacterized by significant increases in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances(TBARS),tissue-associatedmyeloperoxidase activity(MPO),and mucosal content of ratcytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1(CINC-1).These increases in TBARS,MPO activities and CINC-1 contentin the intestinal mucosa after I/R were all inhibited bypretreatment with lansoprazole at a dose of 1 mg/kg.Furthermore,the CINC-1 mRNA expression was increasedduring intestinal I/R,and this increase in mRNA expressionwas inhibited by treatment with lansoprazole.CONCLUSION:Lansoprazole inhibits lipid peroxidation andreduces development of intestinal mucosal inflammationinduced by I/R in rats,suggesting that lansoprazole mayhave a therapeutic potential for I/R injury.     

Direct hemoperfusion with a polymyxin B-immobilized cartridge in intestinal warm ischemia reperfusion

AIM： To investigate the effectiveness of direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin B-immobilized fibers （DHPPMX therapy） on warm ischemia-reperfusion （I/R） injury of the small intestine.
METHODS： The proximal jejunum and distal ileum of mongrel dogs were resected. Warm ischemia was performed by clamping the superior mesenteric artery （SMA） and vein （SMV） for 2 h. Blood flow to the proximal small intestine was restored 1 h after reperfusion, and the distal small intestine was used as a stoma. The experiment was discontinued 6 h after reperfusion. The dogs were divided into two groups： the DHP-PMX group （n = 6, DHP-PMX was performed for 180 min; from 10 min prior to reperfusion to 170 rain after reperfusion） and the control group （n = 5）. The rate pressure product （RPP）, SMA blood flow, mucosal tissue blood flow, and intramucosal pH （pHi） were compared between the two groups. The serum interleukin （IL）-10 levels measured 170 min after reperfusion were also compared.
RESULTS： The RPP at 6 h after reperfusion was significantly higher in the PMX group than in the control group （12174 ± 1832 mmHg/min vs 8929 ± 1797 mmHg/min, P 〈 0.05）. The recovery rates of the SMA blood flow at I and 6 h after reperfusion were significantly better in the PMX group than in the control group （61%±7% vs 44% ±4%, P 〈 0.05, and 59%±5% vs 35%±5%, P 〈 0.05, respectively）. The recovery rate of the mucosal tissue blood flow and the pHi levels at 6 h after reperfusion were significantly higher in the PMX group （61%±8% vs 31%±3%, P 〈 0.05 and 7.91±0.06 vs 7.69±0.08, P 〈 0.05, respectively）. In addition, the serum IL-IO levels just before DHP-PMX removal were significantly higher in the PMX group than in the control group （1 569 ± 253 pg/mL vs 211± 40 pg/mL, P 〈 0.05）.
CONCLUSION： DHP-PMX therapy reduced warm I/R injury of the small intestine. IL-10 may play a role in inhibiting I/R injury during DHP-PMX therapy.     

Lansoprazole ameliorates intestinal mucosal damage induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of lansoprazole on ischemia and reperfusion (I/R)-induced rat intestinal mucosal injury in vivo. METHODS: Intestinal damage was induced by clamping both the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac trunk for 30 min followed by reperfusion in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Lansoprazole was given to rats intraperitoneally 1 h before vascular clamping. RESULTS: Both the intraluminal hemoglobin and protein levels, as indices of mucosal damage, significantly increased in I/R-groups comparison with those of sham-operation groups. These increases in intraluminal hemoglobin and protein levels were significantly inhibited by the treatment with lansoprazole at a dose of 1 mg/kg. Small intestine exposed to I/R resulted in mucosal inflammation that was characterized by significant increases in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), tissue-associated myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), and mucosal content of rat cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1). These increases in TBARS, MPO activities and CINC-1 content in the intestinal mucosa after I/R were all inhibited by pretreatment with lansoprazole at a dose of 1 mg/kg. Furthermore, the CINC-1 mRNA expression was increased during intestinal I/R, and this increase in mRNA expression was inhibited by treatment with lansoprazole. CONCLUSION: Lansoprazole inhibits lipid peroxidation and reduces development of intestinal mucosal inflammation induced by I/R in rats, suggesting that lansoprazole may have a therapeutic potential for I/R injury.     

Capillary blood flow as an index of the therapeutic effect of folinic acid in ischemia-reperfusion syndrome]

OBJECTIVE: An intestinal reperfusion study with two aims: a) to assess the usefulness of intestinal capillary blood flow measurement by laser-Doppler for intestinal reperfusion studies; and b) to compare the effects of racemic and levo forms of folinic acid in treating the syndrome. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A murine model of intestinal ischemia by completely clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 90 minutes. A comparison was made of three treatment groups: saline, folinic acid, and levo-folinic acid. The following factors were analyzed: changes in biochemical parameters (levels of creatine kinase, lactic dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase at 60 minutes, and at two and seven days after restoring blood flow), capillary flow in the jejunum and ileum by laser-Doppler (during ischemia and after the first hour of reperfusion), intestinal mucosa injury, and survival curve. RESULTS: Laser-Doppler provided reliable data on how the different treatments affected capillary flow during intestinal reperfusion. Levo-folinic acid improved capillary flow in the ileum after 25 minutes of reperfusion, and also reduced mucosal injury in the same stretch of intestine by the seventh day post-reperfusion (p<0.05). On the other hand, it produced an initial increase in serum enzymes during reperfusion, and did not modify survival. CONCLUSIONS: The changes observed in intestinal capillary blood flow measurement by laser-Doppler have similarities with the effects of drugs on pathological mucosal changes. We could not prove that the levo form of folinic acid has a stronger protective effect versus racemic folinic acid in intestinal ischemia-reperfusion syndrome.     

组织因子和组织因子途径抑制物1对无复流作用的实验研究

目的 观察缺血再灌注时兔心肌组织和血浆中组织因子(TF)和组织因子途径抑制物1(TFPI-1)水平的变化,研究外源性TFPI-1对无复流严重程度的影响,探讨TF激活的外源性凝血系统及TFPI-1抑制途径在无复流发病过程中的作用.方法 40只新西兰大白兔随机分为4组(每组10只):缺血再灌注组(IR组,结扎回旋支120 min,再灌注60 min)、缺血再灌注TFPI-1组(TFPI-1组,再灌注时rTFPI-1 100 ng/kg静脉注射,1ng·kg~(-1)·min~(-1)静脉滴注)、缺血组(结扎回旋支180 min)和假手术组,每组10只.用硫磺素S和Evan's蓝活体染色区分无复流区和缺血区.无复流严重程度用无复流面积/缺血面积表示.用逆转录-聚合酶链反应方法测定无复流区、缺血区及正常区心肌组织TF和TFPI-1 mRNA表达水平,ELISA方法测定开胸前、冠状动脉结扎前即刻及结扎120 min、再灌注10和60 min血浆TF和TFPI-1水平.结果 开胸前、冠状动脉结扎前即刻及结扎120 min,各组血浆TF、TFPI-1水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);再灌注10和60 min时,IR组血浆TF水平均显著高于缺血组和假手术组[10min:(20.7±4.1)pg/ml比(13.9±2.2)pg/ml(P<0.001),(20.7±4.1)pg/ml比(13.2±2.6)pg/ml(P<0.001);60 min:(15.8±2.6)pg/ml比(13.5±1.6)pg/ml(P<0.05),(15.8±2.6)pg/ml比(12.1±0.7)Pg/ml(P<0.001)].再灌注10 min时,IR组血浆TFPI-1水平较缺血组及假手术组无明显变化(P>0.05);60 min时,血浆TFPI-1水平[(9.7±1.6)ng/ml]反而显著低于缺血组[(11.6±1.6)ng/ml,P<0.05]及假手术组[(10.1±1.3)ng/ml,P<0.01].IR组无复流区心肌组织TF mRNA表达高于缺血组及假手术组(P<0.05或P<0.001);TFPI-1 mRNA表达较缺血组无明显变化(P>0.05).TFPI-1组无复流严重程度明显低于IR组(0.39±0.11比0.54±0.06,P<0.01).结论 无复流区心肌组织TF转录水平及再灌注过程中TF血浆蛋白水平表达明显上调;而无复流区心肌组织TFPI-1转录水平无明显变化,再灌注过程中血浆蛋白水平反而相对降低;外源性rTFPI-1可以减轻无复流严重程度.TF激活的外源凝血途径在无复流发病过程中起到重要作用.     

L-arginine administration ameliorates serum and pulmonary cytokine response after gut ischemia-reperfusion in immature rats

AIM: Small intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) has been demonstrated to result in both local mucosal injury and systemic injuries. The exact role of nitric oxide (NO) in intestinal IR is unclear. We propose that NO and some other cytokines change in the reperfusion period and these changes are associated with lung injury. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of supplementing NO substrate, L-arginine (L-arg), on serum and pulmonary cytokine production during small intestinal IR in immature rats. METHODS: Immature rats underwent 60 min. of superior mesenteric artery occlusion followed by 90 min of reperfusion. L-arg (250 mg/kg) was given intravenously to the experimental group (IR+L-arg) which received L-arg after 45 min of intestinal ischemia. Serum and lung endothelin-1 (ET-1), NO, malondialdehyde (MDA), and tumor necrosis factor a (TNFα) were measured. Sham operation (SHAM) and intestinal IR (IR) groups were performed as control. The lavage fluid of the lung was collected by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and white blood cells and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) were immediately counted to identify lung damage. RESULTS: When L-arg was given during small intestinal IR, serum NO concentration increased significantly in IR+L-arg group (162.17±42.93 μmol/L) when compared with IR group (87.57±23.17 μmol/L, t=3.190, P= 0.008 <0.01). Serum MDA reduced significantly in IR+L-arg group (8.93±1.50 nmol/L) when compared with SHAM (23.78±7.81 nmol/L, t= 3.243, P= 0.007<0.01) and IR (25.54±9.32 nmol/L, t= 3.421, P= 0.006<0.01). ET-1 level in lung tissues was significantly lower in IR+L-arg group (13.81±7.84 pg/mL) than that in SHAM (35.52±10.82 pg/mL, t= 2,571, P= 0,03<0.05) and IR (50.83±22.05 pg/mL, t= 3.025, P= 0.009<0.01) groups. MDA contents in lung tissues were significantly lower in IR+L-arg group (10.73±1.99 nmol/L) than in SHAM (16.62±2.28 nmol/L, t= 3.280, P = 0.007<0.01) and IR (21.90±4.82 nmol/L, t= 3.322, P= 0.007<0.01) groups. Serum and lung TNFα concentrations were not significantly different in three groups. NO contents in lung homogenates and white blood cell counts in BAL had no significant difference in three groups; but the percentage of PMNs in BAL was 13.50±8.92, 33.20±16.59, and 22.50±6.09 in SHAM, IR, and IR+L-arg groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Small intestinal IR induced increases of pulmonary neutrophil infiltration in immature rats. Neutrophil infiltration in lung tissues was reduced by L-arg administration but remained higher than in SHAM group. L-arg administration during intestinal IR enhances serum NO production, reduces serum MDA and lung ET-1 and MDA levels, resulting in the improvement of systemic endothelial function. L-arg supplementation before reperfusion may act as a useful clinical adjunct in the management of intestinal IR, thus preventing the development of adult respiratory distress syndrome, even multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).     

Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein as a sensitive marker of intestinal ischemia

Determination of the serum level of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein has been used to detect rat intestinal ischemia following ligation or 30-min occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. The normal values were under the minimal detectable level of less than 2 ng/ml in all the 10 rats. The serum fatty acid-binding protein level increased rapidly, to 340.7 +/- 54.6, 438.5 +/- 40.1, 388.1 +/- 37.4, and 292.2 +/- 95.7 ng/ml (P less than 0.01) at 1, 2, 4, and 8 hr after ligation, respectively. It also increased, to 347.2 +/- 127.7 ng/ml (P less than 0.01) at 1 hr, after a 30-min transient occlusion and then returned to a normal level. Histological studies showed destruction of the villi, disappearance of the mucosa, and transmural necrosis with the progress of time after ligation, while no remarkable morphological change was observed following 30-min transient occlusion. These observations strongly suggest that the intestinal fatty acid-binding protein is a useful biochemical marker for intestinal ischemia, particularly in the early reversible phase.     

Partial coronary stenosis is sufficient and complete reperfusion is mandatory for preconditioning the canine heart.

Repeated brief episodes of total coronary artery occlusion (i.e., severe ischemia), each separated by brief periods of reperfusion, reduce infarct size after a subsequent sustained ischemia. The importance of the intensity of ischemia during these coronary artery occlusions and the role of the following transient reflow are poorly understood. Therefore, our objective was to determine whether moderate preconditioning ischemia induced by partial coronary artery stenosis (reducing coronary flow to approximately 50% of its baseline values), with or without a brief period of total reperfusion, could precondition the canine myocardium. Dogs were randomized to receive one of three preconditioning "treatments": the R(-) group underwent 15 minutes of partial coronary stenosis without subsequent brief reperfusion (n = 8); the R(+) group underwent 15 minutes of partial coronary stenosis followed by 10 minutes of full reflow (n = 8); and the control group underwent no intervention (n = 8). All dogs then underwent 1 hour of total coronary artery occlusion and 4.5 hours of reperfusion. Both treated groups were equally and moderately ischemic during partial stenosis: myocardial blood flow in the inner two thirds of the left ventricular wall averaged 0.25 +/- 0.05 and 0.31 +/- 0.07 ml/min per gram in the R(-) and R(+) groups, respectively (p = NS). Furthermore, all three groups were equally and severely ischemic during sustained total occlusion: myocardial blood flow in the inner two thirds of the left ventricular wall averaged 0.06 +/- 0.05, 0.05 +/- 0.03, and 0.07 +/- 0.03 ml/min/g in control, R(-), and R(+) groups, respectively (p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Coronary cyclic flow variations "precondition" ischemic myocardium.

BACKGROUND. Repeated brief episodes of myocardial ischemia performed by mechanical clamping of a coronary artery "precondition" the heart and reduce infarct size after a subsequent sustained ischemia. It is not known, however, whether spontaneous episodes of transient ischemia caused by formation of platelet thrombi, which may occur in unstable angina, have a similar cardioprotective effect. METHODS AND RESULTS. Therefore, our objective was to determine whether brief spontaneous thrombotic episodes of ischemia/reperfusion could limit infarct size and preserve contractile function following 60 minutes (protocol 1) or 90 minutes (protocol 2) of sustained ischemia and 4-4.5 hours of reperfusion in the canine model. Before the sustained coronary occlusion, dogs underwent a 30-minute "treatment" period consisting of: no intervention (control group), four repeated episodes of 3-minute mechanical occlusion plus 5-minute reperfusion (preconditioned group), or coronary artery stenosis and endothelial injury, resulting in a mean of four spontaneous episodes of cyclic flow variations (CFV group) caused by formation and dislodgment of platelet thrombi. In protocol 1 (60-minute sustained ischemia plus 4.5-hour reperfusion), infarct size was significantly smaller in both the preconditioned and CFV groups compared with controls (3.5 +/- 1.4%,* 3.4 +/- 2.1%,* and 9.9 +/- 2.7% of the myocardium at risk, respectively; *p less than 0.05 versus control). In contrast, neither preconditioning nor CFV preserved contractile function: Segment shortening during sustained occlusion was equally depressed at -15% to -20% of baseline values among the three groups and equally stunned at +12% to +18% of baseline during the 4.5 hours of reflow. In protocol 2 (90-minute sustained ischemia plus 4-hour reperfusion), only CFV continued to exert a cardioprotective effect: Infarct size averaged 15.0 +/- 4.1%, 7.4 +/- 2.5%,* and 16.5 +/- 4.4% of the region at risk in the preconditioned, CFV, and control groups, respectively (*p less than 0.05 versus control). Contractile function, however, was similar among all three groups both during 90 minutes of sustained occlusion and throughout 4 hours of reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS. We therefore conclude that repeated coronary thrombus formation preconditions the ischemic myocardium: In fact, in contrast to mechanical preconditioning, cardioprotection provided by CFV persisted following 90 minutes of sustained coronary occlusion. However, preconditioning by thrombotic or mechanical occlusion neither preserved myocardial contractile function during sustained coronary occlusion nor prevented stunning after reperfusion. These data raise the possibility that clinical episodes of unstable angina prior to acute myocardial infarction may precondition the ischemic myocardium.     

Protective effects of ischemic preconditioning and application of lipoic acid prior to 90 min of hepatic ischemia in a rat model

AIM： To compare different preconditioning strategies to protect the liver from ischemia/reperfusion injury focusing on the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. Interventions comprised different modes of ischemic preconditioning （IP） as well as pharmacologic pretreatment by α-lipoic acid （LA）.
METHODS： Several groups of rats were compared： sham operated animals, non-pretreated animals （nt）, animals receiving IP （10 rain of ischemia by clamping of the portal triad and 10 min of reperfusion） prior to sustained ischemia, animals receiving selective ischemic preconditioning （IPsel, 10 min of ischemia by selective clamping of the ischemic lobe and 10 rain of reperfusion） prior to sustained ichemia, and animals receiving 500 1μmol α-LA injected i.v. 15 min prior to the induction of 90 min of selective ischemia.
RESULTS： Cellular damage was decreased only in the LA group. TUNEL-positive hepatocytes as well as necrotic hepatocyte injury were also decreased only by LA（19 ± 2 vs 10 ± 1, P〈 0.05 and 29 ± 5 vs 12 ± 1, P 〈 0.05）. Whereas caspase 3- activities in liver tissue were unchanged, caspase 9- activity in liver tissue was decreased only by LA pretreatment （3.1 ± 0.3 vs 1.8 ± 0.2, P 〈 0.05）. Survival rate as the endpoint of liver function was increased after IP and LA pretreatment but not after IPsel. Levels of lipid peroxidation （LPO） in liver tissue were decreased in the IP as well as in the LA group compared to the nt group. Determination of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins showed a shift towards anti-apoptotic proteins by LA. In contrast, both our IP strategies failed to influence apototic cell death.
CONCLUSION： IP, consisting of 10 min of ischemia and 10 min of reperfusion, ischemia/reperfusion injury protects only partly against of the liver prior to 90 min of selective ischemia. IPsel did not influence ischemic tolerance of the liver. LA improved tolerance to ischemia, possibly by downregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax.     

Transient myocardial ischemia stimulates atrial natriuretic factor release.

Atrial natriuretic factor release during transient myocardial ischemia was investigated in 29 patients with coronary artery disease and symptoms of angina (Canadian Cardiovascular Association classes II-III). Eleven patients (group I) underwent single-vessel percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Repeat determinations of mean pulmonary artery wedge pressure and blood sampling from pulmonary artery for atrial natriuretic factor measurements were performed at baseline, and at 2, 5, and 15 minutes after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was begun. Baseline atrial natriuretic factor levels (34.6 +/- 4.5 pg/ml) rose to 56.3 +/- 7.3 pg/ml (p = 0.02) and decreased at 5 minutes (43.7 +/- 5.7 pg/ml, not significant) and 15 minutes (35.3 +/- 4.4 pg/ml, not significant). Changes in atrial natriuretic factor concentrations were significantly correlated with those in mean pulmonary artery wedge pressure (2 minutes: r = 0.69, p = 0.02; 5 minutes: r = 0.90, p less than 0.001). In group II (n = 10) the increase in atrial natriuretic factor after dye load occurred later (baseline: 25.8 +/- 2.1; 60 minutes: 40.6 +/- 2.6 pg/ml; p = 0.005) than that observed in group I after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. In group III, atrial natriuretic factor during angina rose as early (baseline 11.3 +/- 1.3; 5 minutes: 20 +/- 2.3 pg/ml; p = 0.006) as after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Results indicate that transient myocardial ischemia stimulates atrial natriuretic factor release, probably through changes in cardiac function.     

Short-term intestinal ischemia-reperfusion alters intestinal motility that can be preserved by xanthine oxidase inhibition

While the effects of transient intestinal ischemia on mucosa have been well investigated, less is known about its effect on motor function. An experimental study was designed to investigate the effects of ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) on intestinal motility and intestinal muscular microcirculation. Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: (1) baseline, (2) sham operation, (3) I/R, and (4) I/R with allopurinol pretreatment. Ischemia was induced by clamping the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) for 10 min. Gastroanal transit time (GATT) was measured with serial x-rays after instillation of barium sulfate to the stomach. Intestinal muscular microcirculation was evaluated by determining the number of carbon-perfused intestinal muscular microvessels (CPIMM). I/R prolonged GATT and decreased CPIMM significantly (P < 0.01). Pretreatment with allopurinol prevented prolongation of GATT and returned the number of CPIMM to the level of sham treatment (P < 0.01). In conclusion, reperfusion after 10 min of SMA ischemia alters intestinal motility. The no-reflow phenomenon plays an important role in this alteration of motility. Administration of allopurinol before reperfusion preserves intestinal motility by preventing the occurrence of no-reflow phenomenon.     

Post-ischemic cardiac chamber stiffness and coronary vasomotion: the role of edema and effects of dextran

Contributions of edema to left ventricular (LV) chamber stiffness and coronary resistance after ischemia were studied in isolated buffer-perfused rabbit hearts, with constant LV chamber volume, subjected to 30 min global ischemia and 60 min reperfusion. During reperfusion hearts were perfused with standard buffer or with 3% dextran to increase oncotic pressure and decrease water content. LV chamber volume was adjusted to an initial diastolic pressure (LVEDP) of 10 mmHg. In nonischemic hearts (n = 6) LVEDP was 11 +/- 0.3 mmHg and water content was 5.0 +/- 0.1 ml/g dry weight after 90 min of perfusion. In untreated ischemic hearts (n = 8) LVEDP was 51 +/- 4 mmHg and water content was 6.0 +/- 0.1 ml/g dry weight after 60 min reperfusion (P less than 0.001 v. nonischemic). In dextran-treated ischemic hearts (n = 8) LVEDP was 38 +/- 3 mmHg (P less than 0.05 v. untreated ischemic) and water content was 5.2 +/- 0.1 ml/g dry weight (P less than 0.001 v. untreated ischemic). Coronary resistance in untreated ischemic hearts increased by 26% from 2.0 +/- 0.06 to 2.6 +/- 0.06 mmHg/ml/min after 60 min reperfusion. In treated hearts coronary resistance increased by 16% from 1.9 +/- 0.09 to 2.2 +/- 0.09 mm/Hg/ml/min (P less than 0.01 v. untreated ischemic). To determine whether the decrease in coronary resistance with dextran could be ascribed to active vasodilation, dilator responses to 2 min hypoxia or 10(-4)M adenosine were tested in nonischemic and reperfused ischemic hearts. Dilator responses were stable in nonischemic hearts or hearts reperfused after 15 min ischemia but after 30 min ischemia the dilator response to hypoxia was reduced by 72% (P less than 0.025) and the dilator response to adenosine was eliminated (P less than 0.02). Thus the response to dextran was unlike that of a direct vasodilator. These data suggest that myocardial edema plays a significant role in maintaining increased ventricular chamber stiffness and coronary resistance during reperfusion after ischemia.     

Effects of ischemic preconditioning on cyclinD1 expression during early ischemic reperfusion in rats

AIM: To observe the effect of ischemic preconditioning on cyclinD1 expression in rat liver cells during early ischemic reperfusion. METHODS: Fifty-four SD rats were randomly divided into ischemic preconditioning group (IP), ischemia/ reperfusion group (IR) and sham operation group (SO). The IP and IR groups were further divided into four sub-groups (n - 6). Sham operation group (SO) served as the control group (n = 6). A model of partial liver ischemia/reperfusion was used, in which rats were subjected to liver ischemia for 60 min prior to reperfusion. The animals in the IP group underwent ischemic preconditioning twice for 5 min each time prior to the ischemia/reperfusion challenge. After 0, 1, 2, and 4 h of reperfusion, serum and liver tissue in each group were collected to detect the level of serum ALT, liver histopathology and expression of cyclinDi mRNA and protein. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle as the quantity indicator of cell regeneration. RESULTS: Compared with IR group, IP group showed a significantly lower ALT level in 1 h to 4 h sub-groups (P < 0.05). Proliferation index(PI) indicated by the S-phase and G2/M-phase ratio [(S G2/M)/(G0/G1 S G2/M)] was significantly increased in IP group at 0 and 1 h (26.44±7.60% vs 18.56±6.40%,41.87±7.27% vs 20.25±6.70%, P < 0.05). Meanwhile, cyclinDi protein expression could be detected in IP group. But in IR group, cyclinDi protein expression occurred 2 h after reperfusion. The expression of cyclinDi mRNA increased significantly in IP group at 0 and 1 h (0.568±0.112 vs 0.274±0.069, 0.762±0.164 vs 0.348±0.093, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ischemic preconditioning can protect liver cells against ischemia/reperfusion injury, which may be related to cell proliferation and expression of cyclinD1 during early ischemic reperfusion.     

Initial evaluation of systemic and regional pCO2 gradients as markers of mesenteric hypoperfusion

BACKGROUND: Mesenteric ischemia is a life-threatening emergency with a mortality rates still ranging between 60% and 100%. AIM: To evaluate the systemic and regional pCO2 gradients changes induced by mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion injury. In addition, we sought to determine if other systemic marker of splanchnic hypoperfusion could detect the initial changes in intestinal mucosal microcirculation after superior mesenteric artery occlusion. METHODS: Seven pentobarbital anesthetized mongrel dogs (20.6 +/- 1.1 kg) were subjected to superior mesenteric artery occlusion for 45 minutes, and followed for an additional 120 minutes. Systemic hemodynamic was evaluated through a Swan-Ganz and arterial catheters, while gastrointestinal tract perfusion by superior mesenteric vein and jejunal serosal blood flows (ultrasonic flowprobe). Intestinal oxygen delivery, extraction and consumption (DO2intest, ERO2intest and VO2intest, respectively), intramucosal pH (gas tonometry), and mesenteric-arterial and mucosal arterial pCO2 gradients (D(vm-a)pCO2 and D(t-a)pCO2, respectively) were calculated. RESULTS: Superior mesenteric artery occlusion was not associated with significant changes on systemic hemodynamics parameters. A significant increase of D(vm-a)pCO2 (1.7 +/- 0.5 to 5.7 +/- 1.8 mm Hg) and D(t-a)pCO2 (8.2 +/- 4.8 to 48.7 +/- 4.6 mm Hg) were detected. During the reperfusion period a significant decrease on DO2intest (67.7 +/- 9.9 to 38.8 +/- 5.3 mL/min) and a compensatory increase on ERO2intest from 5.0 +/- 1.1% to 12.4 +/- 2.7% was observed. CONCLUSION: We conclude that gas tonometry can detect the mesenteric blood flow disturbances sooner than other analyzed parameters. Additionally, we demonstrated that changes on systemic or regional pCO2 gradients are not able to detect the magnitude of intestinal mucosal blood flow reduction after mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion injury.     

Impact of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and gastrin-releasing peptide on small bowel microcirculation and mucosal injury after hepatic ischemia/reperfusion in rats

Background and aims Alterations in microvascular perfusion of the intestine after hepatic ischemia/reperfusion have been suggested as an important cause of postoperative septic complications. We therefore investigated small bowel microcirculation and mucosal injury after liver ischemia/reperfusion in a rat model. Furthermore, we analyzed the effects of the regulatory peptides vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and gastrin-releasing peptide for their splanchnic vasoactivity.Methods Hepatic ischemia was induced by clamping of the left hepatic artery and vein for 40 min, followed by 60 min of reperfusion. The control group was treated similarly, but without clamping of the liver vessels. Ten minutes after clamping of the hepatic vessels, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide or gastrin-releasing peptide, respectively, were continuously infused intravenously in the experimental groups. Small bowel microcirculation and mucosal injury were assessed using intravital microscopy and the Chiu-score, respectively.Results The functional capillary density of the small intestine following ischemia and reperfusion of the left hepatic lobe significantly decreased compared to normal controls in both the mucosa and the smooth intestinal muscle. Red blood cell velocity decreased, whereas leukocyte–endothelium adherence, stasis index and the mucosal injury score increased. Administration of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide resulted in an increase of functional capillary density in the mucosa and of the red blood cell velocity and a decrease in the stasis index. The mucosal injury score was significantly higher in reperfused animals without treatment. The application of gastrin-releasing peptide resulted in an isolated increase of the red blood cell velocity. Leukocyte adherences could not be altered by the regulatory peptides.Conclusion We conclude that hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury leads to significant alterations of small bowel microcirculation and mucosal injury. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and gastrin-releasing peptide attenuate the damage in a different manner.     

Role of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite anion in lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia－reperfusion in rats

AIM: To evaluate effects of nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite anion (ONOO-) on lung injury following intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) in rats. METHODS: A rat model of intestinal ischemia was made by clamping superior mesenteric artery and lung injury was resulted from reperfusion. The animals were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham operation (Sham), 2 h ischemia followed by 2 h reperfusion (IR) and IR pretreated with aminoguanidine (AG) - an inhibitor of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) 15 minutes before reperfusion (IR+AG). The lung malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrate/nitrite (NO2/NO3)contents and morphological changes were examined.Western blot was used to detect the iNOS protein expression.Immunohistochemical staining was used to determine the change of nitrotyrosine (NT)- a specific "footprint" of ONOO-. RESULTS: The morphology revealed evidence for lung edema, hemorrhage and polymorphonuclear sequestration after intestinal IR. Compared with sham group, lung contents of MDA and NO2-/NO3- in IR group were significantly increased (12.00±2.18 vs23.44±1.25 and 76.39±6.08 vs140.40±4.34,P＜0.01) and the positive signals of iNOS and NT were also increased in the lung. Compared with IR group, the contents of MDA and NO2/NO3 in IR+AG group were significantly decreased (23.44±1.25 vs14.66±1.66 and 140.40±4.34 vs 80.00±8.56, P＜0.01) and NT staining was also decreased. CONCLUSION: Intestinal IR increases NO and ONOO production in the lung, which may be involved in intestinal IR-mediated lung injury.