| Abstract: | Leukocyte infiltration is an important step inpostischemic tissue damage. This study aimed todetermine the expression of adhesion molecules and theirrelationship with leukocyte infiltration in thepostischemic gastric mucosa. Gastric tissue was obtainedfrom rats subjected to 30 min gastric ischemia followedby reperfusion. Sections were stained with specificantibodies against (1) L-selectin and (2) LFA-1 on leukocytes, (3) ICAM-1 on endothelial cells,(4) PMNs, and (5) monocytes. Stained cells or bloodvessels in mucosal tissue were counted using imageanalysis. Results showed that from 5 min of reperfusion, numbers of L-selectin-positive cells decreased,whereas LFA-1-positive cells and PMNs increased comparedwith controls. ICAM-1 expression did not increase until60 min of reperfusion. Monocyte numbers were unaffected by reperfusion. We conclude thatgastric ischemiareperfusion results in a rapid influx ofLFA-1-positive cells, the majority of which are PMN.L-Selectin is shed from these cells allowing them to adhere to the microvasculature viaconstitutively expressed ICAM-1. |
