Biochemical and morphological evaluation of Ischemia-Reperfusion injury in rat small bowel modulated by ischemic preconditioning

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ischemic preconditioning upon lesions produced by ischemia-reperfusion of the small intestine. Thirty EPM-1 Wistar rats were randomly distributed into three groups: ischemic preconditioning (IPC; n = 12), ischemia–reperfusion (I/R; n = 12), and control (C; n = 6). Laparotomy permitted isolation of the mesenteric artery for clamping. The animals were heparinized and hydrated. IPC was induced by: 10 minutes of ischemia followed by 10 minutes of reperfusion and then 50 minutes ischemia followed by another 30 minutes reperfusion. Group I/R was submitted to the same protocol except for the 20 minutes of preconditioning. Group C animals underwent only laparotomy for 100 minutes. After reperfusion small intestine fragments were examined histologically. Blood samples were obtained to measure LDH and lactate prior to euthanasia. Lactate values were significantly lower in the IPC as compared to I/R group, 39 versus 67 mg/dL, respectively ( P ≤ .05). However, neither IPC (grade 3) lesions of the mucosa versus I/R (grade 4) nor LDH values (PCI = 680, I/R = 873 U/L) were statistically different. Thus No morphological evidence of protection was observed following ischemic preconditioning.