Effects of Intestinal Ischemia-Reperfusion on Major Conduit Arteries

Abstract

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) is a common and serious clinical condition associated with simultaneous remote organ dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of intestinal I-R on the vasomotor functions of major conduit arteries. Anesthetized rabbits were randomly assigned to one of three groups: sham-operated controls (Group I), and one-hour intestinal ischemia with two-hour reperfusion (Group II) or four-hour reperfusion (Group III). The following mechanisms of vasomotor functions were studied in abdominal aorta, superior mesenteric, renal, pulmonary, and carotid arterial rings: (1) endothelial-dependent vasodilation response to acetylcholine, (2) endothelial-independent vasodilation response to nitroprusside, (3) beta-adrenergic vasodilation response to isoproterenol, and (4) phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction. Intestinal injury was quantified using malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and wet-to-dry intestine weight ratio. Intestinal I-R did not affect the maximal responsiveness or the sensitivity to acetylcholine, nitroprusside, and isoproterenol in all the vessels studied. The maximal contractile response to phenylephrine increased significantly in mesenteric artery in Group II, (227.1+/-15.1% vs. 152.8+/-11.7% in controls) (p<0.05). Intestinal MDA concentration, a marker of oxidant injury, increased from 39.87+/-9.41 nmol/g to 67.8+/-8.8 nmol/g in group II (p<0.01), and to 94.8+/-7.56 nmol/g in Group III (p<0.001). Wet-to-dry intestine weight ratio increased from 3.62+/-0.12 to 4.28+/-0.17 in Group II (p<0.01), to 4.62+/-0.14 in Group III (p<0.001). These data indicate that although the intestines of the animals subjected to intestinal I-R are seriously injured, the smooth muscle relaxation of major conduit arteries was not affected.

Vascular relaxation of canine visceral arteries after ischemia by means of supraceliac aortic cross-clamping followed by reperfusion

“…Previous investigations showed controversy results. Koksoy et al (2000) demonstrated that rabbit abdominal aorta, superior mesenteric, renal, pulmonary, and carotid arteries present unchanged endothelial and smooth muscle function after one-hour intestinal ischemia with two- or four-hour reperfusion [14]. The former group reported that the same model of I/R in rats led to a significant reduction in the ability of the pulmonary vasculature to respond to Ach, and calcium ionophore, but not to nitroglycerin [13].…”

“…Concerning the vessel size, studies postulated that I/R impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation of microvessels, but does not affect large arteries [14,21]. Quillen et al found that dogs after 1 hour of coronary artery occlusion with 1 hour of reperfusion had impairment of endothelium-dependent responses in the coronary microcirculation, but not in large epicardial coronary arteries [21].…”