Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of iloprost (I) on lung injury as a remote organ following skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model. Materials and methods: Twenty-four Wistar Albino rats were randomized into four groups (n = 6). Laparotomy was performed in all groups under general anesthesia. Only laparotomy was applied in Group S (Sham). Ischemia reperfusion group (Group I/R) underwent ischemia and reperfusion performed by clamping and declamping of the infrarenal abdominal aorta for 120 minutes. Group iloprost (Group I) received intravenous infusion of iloprost 0.5 ng/kg/min, without ischemia and reperfusion. Group I/R/I received intravenous infusion of iloprost 0.5 ng/kg/min immediately after 2 hours of ischemia. At the end of the study, lung tissue was obtained for determining total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels, histochemical and immunohistochemical determination. Results: Diffuse lymphocyte infi ltration was detected in immunohistochemical examination of lung tissue in Group I/R. The connective tissue around bronchi, bronchioles and vessel walls was found to be increased. Although minimal local lymphocyte infi ltration was detected in some fi elds in Group I/R/I, the overall tissue was found to be similar to Group S. iNOS expression was signifi cantly higher in Group I/R, when compared with Group S and signifi cantly lower in Group I/R/I compared to Group I/R. TOS levels were signifi cantly higher in Group I/R, when compared with groups S and I (p = 0.028, p = 0.016, respectively) and signifi cantly lower in group I/R/I, when compared with Group I/R (p = 0.048). TAS levels were signifi cantly higher in Group I/R, when compared with groups S, I (p = 0.014, p = 0.027, respectively) and signifi cantly lower in Group I/R/I, when compared with Group I/R (p = 0.032). Conclusion: These results indicate that administration of iloprost may have protective effects against ischemia reperfusion injury (Fig. 8, Tab. 1, Ref. 30). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.

Abstract:Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine (100 μg/kg-ip) on liver injury-induced myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (IR) in rats. Materials and methods: Twenty-four Wistar Albino rats were separated into four groups. There were four experimental groups (Group C (Control; n = 6), Group IR (ischemia-reperfusion, n = 6), Group D (Dexmedetomidine; n = 6) that underwent left thoracotomy and received ip dexmedetomidine without IR administered via 100 μg/ kg ip route 30 minutes before ligating the left coronary artery, and Group IR-D (IR-Dexmedetomidine; n = 6). A small plastic snare was threaded through the ligature and placed in contact with the heart. To produce IR, a branch of the left coronary artery was occluded for 30 min followed by two hours of reperfusion. However, after the above procedure, the coronary artery was not occluded or reperfused in the control rats. At the end of the study, liver tissue was obtained for histochemical and immunohistochemical determination. Some part of tissue samples were stained with Masson-trichrome for the evaluation of ultrastructural changes and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression was evaluated in other part of samples for immunohistochemical examination. Results: Histopathological changes were detected in Group IR when compared with Group C. iNOS expression was found to be increased and stronger particularly in the vascular wall, perisinusoidal space and hepatocytes around vena centralis in this group compared to the control group. Perivascular oedema was detected to be decreased in Group IR-D compared to Group IR. It was also observed that the impairment in the radial arrangement of hepatocytes signifi cantly recovered in Group IR-D. The immunoreactivity was found to be signifi cantly decreased in the assessment of iNOS expression in the same group when compared with Group IR. Conclusion: Administration of dexmedetomidine ameliorates liver injury induced by myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (Fig. 8, Ref. 33). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.

Abstract:Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of adrenomedullin (AM) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on lung injury as a remote organ following skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model. Materials and methods: Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomized into six groups (n=6). Laparotomy was performed in all groups under general anesthesia. Nothing else was done in Group S (Sham). Ischemia reperfusion group (Group I/R) underwent ischemia and reperfusion performed by clamping and declamping of the infrarenal abdominal aorta for 120 minutes, respectively. Group VEGF and Group AM received intravenous infusion of VEGF (0.8 μg/kg) or AM (12 μg /kg) respectively, without ischemia and reperfusion. Group IR+VEGF and Group IR+AM received intravenous infusion of VEGF (0.8 μg/kg) or AM (12 μg /kg) respectively immediately after 2 hours period of ischemia. At the end of reperfusion period. Lung tissue samples were taken for biochemical examination. Total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels in lung tissue were determined by using a novel automated method. p<0.05 was considered as statistically signifi cant. Results: TOS levels were signifi cantly higher in Group I/R, when compared with groups S, AM and VEGF (p=0.004, p=0.011, p=0.017, respectively) and signifi cantly lower in groups I/R+AM and I/R+VEGF, when compared with Group I/R (p=0.018, p=0.006, respectively). TAS levels were signifi cantly higher in Group I/R, when compared with groups S, AM and VEGF (p=0.006 p=0.016, p=0.016, respectively) and signifi cantly lower in Group I/R+AM, when compared with Group I/R (p=0.016). Conclusion: These fi ndings indicate that AM and VEGF acted effectively on the prevention of lung injury induced by skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model (Fig. 2, Ref. 30). Full Text in PDF www.elis.sk.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia reperfusion injury (I/R) in lower extremity is a frequent and important clinical phenomenon. Protective effect of alprostadil on local and distant organ injury due to I/R has been well-documented but its effect on erythrocyte deformability needs further investigation. Our aim was to investigate the effect of alprostadil on erythrocyte deformability in infrarenal aorta of rats undergoing I/R. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study was conducted with 18 Wistar albino rats. Rats were divided into 3 groups; randomized control group (group C; n = 6), I/R group without alprostadil (group I/R; n = 6) and I/R group with alprostadil 20 mcg.kg -1 , intraperitoneal (group I/R-A; n = 6). Packs of erythrocytes were prepared from heparinized blood samples and deformability measurements were done. RESULTS: Comparisons of the control and I/R-A groups revealed similar results (p = 0.240). The values of the IR group were signifi cantly higher than those of the control and IR-A groups (p = 0.009, p = 0.026, respectively). CONCLUSION: In our study, we detected unfavourable effects of I/R on erythrocyte deformability, which may lead to disturbance in blood fl ow and hence tissue perfusion in infrarenal rat aorta. We also found that alprostadil had benefi cial effects by reversing undesirable effects of I/R (Fig. 1, Ref. 22). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.