Effects of iloprost, a stable prostacyclin analog, on intestinal leukocyte adherence and microvascular blood flow in rat experimental endotoxemia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of iloprost, a stable prostacyclin analog, on leukocyte adherence in intestinal venules and intestinal microvascular blood flow in experimental endotoxemia.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study.


METHODS
Experimental laboratory.


METHODS
Twenty-one male Wistar rats weighing 190 +/- 40 g.


METHODS
The rats were divided equally into three groups: the first was a control group; the second received endotoxin (20 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli O55:B5 intravenously); and the third received endotoxin and intravenous iloprost infusion (2 ng.kg-1.min-1).


RESULTS
The distal small intestine of the animals was examined by using intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy 2 hrs after endotoxin challenge. Leukocytes were stained in vivo by means of rhodamine 6G. Intestinal microvascular blood flow was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry in the terminal ileum. Iloprost treatment significantly attenuated the count of adherent leukocytes in collecting venules (control, 61 +/- 10 n/mm2; lipopolysaccharide, 364 +/- 60 n/mm2; iloprost, 232 +/- 29 n/mm2; p <.05) and in postcapillary venules (control, 96 +/- 14 n/mm2; lipopolysaccharide, 470 +/- 21 n/mm2; iloprost 390 +/- 41 n/mm2; p <.05). Intestinal microvascular blood flow was decreased significantly in the lipopolysaccharide group (-49%), whereas iloprost-treated animals showed no significant difference compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrated that administration of iloprost attenuated leukocyte adherence in postcapillary and collecting intestinal venules and improved intestinal microvascular blood flow. Thus, iloprost treatment may impact endotoxin-induced intestinal injury.
Lehmann
C
C
Klinik für Anästhesiologie und operative Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Charité, Campus Charité Mitte, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
König
J P
JP
Dettmann
J
J
Birnbaum
J
J
Kox
W J
WJ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D016285:Iloprost / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D016285:Iloprost