Effect of Carbachol on Intestinal Mucosal Blood Flow, Activity of Na+-K+-ATPase, Expression of Aquaporin-1, and Intestinal Absorption Rate During Enteral Resuscitation of Burn Shock in Rats

We investigated the effect of carbachol (CAR, a cholinergic agent) on intestinal mucosal blood flow (IMBF), activity of Na-K-ATPase, expression of aquaporin (AQP)-1, and intestinal absorption rate during enteral resuscitation of a 35%TBSA scald in rats with a glucose electrolyte solution (GES). One hundred male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham scald (N group); scald without fluid resuscitation (S group); scald resuscitated with enteral GES alone (GES group); scald resuscitated with enteral CAR alone (CAR group); and scald resuscitated with enteral CAR plus GES (GES/CAR group). The rats were inflicted 35%TBSA third degree of scald injury on the back with boiling water (100 degrees C, 15 seconds) in all groups, except the sham scald group. A catheter was inserted into the proximal duodenum (5 cm distal to pylorus) and distal ileum (5 cm proximal to cecum), of each rats through laparotomy, thus a segment of intestine was virtually isolated to form a loop for inlet and outlet of introduced fluid. In N, GES, and GES/CAR groups, fluids were introduced 30 minutes after scald injury. The speed of fluid infusion was 4 ml/kg/1%TBSA for 4 hours. CAR (60 microg/kg) was injected into the intestinal lumen at 30-minute after injury in CAR and GES/CAR groups. At 2 and 4 hours after scald, intestinal absorption rate of water and Na, and IMBF were determined, respectively. Then, animals were killed, and specimens of intestinal tissue were obtained for the determination of the activity of Na-K-ATPase, hematoxylin-eosin coloring, and expression of AQP-1. The intestinal absorption rate was reduced markedly in GES group compared with sham scald group at 2 and 4 hours after scald, and absorption rate of small intestine in GES/CAR was significantly higher than that in GES group (P < .05). It was also found that there was significant decrease in IMBF, activity of Na-K-ATPase, and expression of AQP-1 in scald group compared with the sham group. However, in GES/CAR group, the levels of these parameters were significantly increased compared with scald groups (P < .05). The results indicate that CAR promotes intestinal absorption rate of water and Na by improving IMBF, ATPase activity, and AQP-1 expression in gut mucosa during resuscitation with enteral GES of burn shock in rats.