title: Effects of experimental lower-limb ischaemia-reperfusion injury on the mesenteric microcirculation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ischaemia-reperfusion (I-R) of the leg is associated with functional and structural changes in the intestine. This study assessed whether acute hind-limb I-R in rats induced a reduction in perfusion and/or signs of an inflammatory response in the intestine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were subjected to 2 h of unilateral hind-limb ischaemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion (I-R group, n = 9) or to a sham procedure (control group, n = 9). Mesenteric microvascular diameters, red blood cell velocity, blood flow and leucocyte-vessel wall interactions during reperfusion were measured using intravital microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood pressure and heart rate decreased from 30 min of reperfusion onwards in the I-R group compared with controls. From 15 min after the start of reperfusion, mesenteric arteriolar and venular red blood cell velocity and blood flow decreased by 40-50 per cent. Microvascular diameters and leucocyte-vessel wall interactions did not change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Restoration of blood flow to an acutely ischaemic hind limb led to a significant decline in the splanchnic microcirculatory blood flow. There were, however, no signs of an early inflammatory response in the gut.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: X H T
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Wehrens
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Rouwet
authors.forename: M G A
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: oude Egbrink
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Slaaf
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramsay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D014741:Video Recording