alpha-chymotrypsin and Mesenteric-Vascular-Occlusion

In this study we investigate the changes in intestinal motor responsiveness after mild mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion in anaesthetized rats. Motor responsiveness to pharmacological/electrical stimulation was studied in isolated ileum excised from sham-operated rats or animals which underwent occlusion of superior mesenteric artery (1 h) plus interruption of collateral blood flow and reperfusion for 0, 24, 72 h. Only 24 h reperfusion resulted in a significant suppression in acetylcholine induced contractile response and in indomethacin induced relaxation. In the presence of adrenergic and cholinergic blockade a greater relaxant response to field stimulation (trains 10 s every min, 120 mA, 1 ms and 10 Hz) was unmasked in all groups except 24 h reperfused rats. Such effect was sensitive to N(G)-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NOS unselective inhibitor) and the proteolytic enzyme alpha-chymotrypsin but resistant to aminoguanidine (iNOS selective inhibitor). In conclusion, in this rat model, intestinal mild ischemia/24 h reperfusion induces reversible changes in enteric motility attributable to a decrease in eicosanoids, nitric oxide and neuropeptides availability.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Animals; Chymotrypsin; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electric Stimulation; Gastrointestinal Motility; Ileum; In Vitro Techniques; Indomethacin; Intestinal Mucosa; Male; Mesenteric Arteries; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion; Muscle Contraction; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reperfusion Injury

Topics: Animals; Aprotinin; Chymotrypsin; DNA; gamma-Glutamyltransferase; Intestinal Mucosa; Leucyl Aminopeptidase; Male; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion; Organ Size; Pancreatic Elastase; Pancreatic Juice; Proteins; Rats; Sucrase; Time Factors; Trypsin