title: Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and gastrin-releasing peptide attenuate hepatic microvasculatory disturbances following intestinal ischemia and reperfusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In addition to the primarily affected small bowel, intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (IIR) also leads to a marked decrease in hepatic microcirculation. The aim was to determine the potentially protective effect of the vasoactive hormones vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) on hepatic microcirculation following IIR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a rat model, three animal groups were subjected to 40 min of intestinal ischemia, two of which were infused with either VIP or GRP (n = 12 each). Following reperfusion, hepatic intravital microscopy was performed. Portal venous perfusion, activities of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase, mucosal injury in the small intestine and the expression of antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase, copper-zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn-SOD), glutathione reductase and catalase (CAT) in the liver were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infusion of either VIP or GRP improved hepatic microcirculation and bile flow when compared with the untreated IIR group. VIP and GRP increased portal venous blood flow during reperfusion. VIP reduced the extent of mucosal damage resulting from IIR. GRP caused a decrease in expression of CAT and Cu-Zn-SOD, whereas VIP simply reduced CAT expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that vasoactive hormones may attenuate intestinal and hepatic injuries and circulatory disturbances following IIR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany. ileister@chirugie-gottingen.de
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leister
authors.forename: Ebenzar M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mbachu
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: Stefan T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Samel
authors.forename: Tomislav
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stojanovic
authors.forename: Carsten N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Gutt
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Markus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide