Hemorrhagic shock-induced bacterial translocation is reduced by xanthine oxidase inhibition or inactivation.
Experiments were performed to determine whether bacterial translocation (BT) after hemorrhagic shock is due to a reperfusion injury mediated by xanthine oxidase-derived oxidants. Rats were subjected to 30 minutes of shock (30 mm Hg) followed by reinfusion of shed blood. Twenty-four hours after hemorrhage and reinfusion, the mesenteric lymph node, liver, and spleen were harvested from each animal for bacterial culture, and the ileum and cecum were examined histologically. Sham-shocked (control) rats were instrumented, but blood was not withdrawn. The incidence of BT was higher in the shocked rats (61%) than in the sham-shocked animals (7%) (p less than 0.01). Allopurinol (50 mg/kg, administered orally), a competitive inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, reduced the incidence of shock-induced BT to 14% (p = 0.02). Similarly, rats fed a tungsten-supplemented molybdenum-free diet, which inactivates xanthine oxidase, reduced shock-induced BT to 10% (p = 0.02). The histologic damage cause by hemorrhagic shock was prevented by blocking xanthine oxidase activity. Thus hemorrhagic shock-induced bacterial translocation from the gut appears to be mediated by oxidants generated by activation of the xanthine oxidase system.
Deitch
E A
EA
Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport 71130-3932.
Bridges
W
W
Baker
J
J
Ma
J W
JW
Ma
L
L
Grisham
M B
MB
Granger
D N
DN
Specian
R D
RD
Berg
R
R
D000493:Allopurinol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D014414:Tungsten / Q000494:pharmacology; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D000493:Allopurinol; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D014414:Tungsten