Heat preconditioning prevents oxidative stress-induced damage in the intestine and lung following surgical manipulation.
BACKGROUND
The intestine is increasingly recognized as a primary effector of distant organ damage, such as lung, following abdominal surgery. Surgical manipulation of the intestine generates oxygen free radicals resulting in mucosal damage. Heat preconditioning has been proposed to prevent various stress-induced alterations in cells and tissues, including oxidative stress. This study examined the effect of heat preconditioning on oxidative stress-induced damage to the intestine and lung, following surgical manipulation.


METHODS
Control rats and rats pretreated with heat were subjected to surgical manipulation by opening the abdominal wall and handling the intestine as done during laparotomy. Intestine and lung were assessed for damage by histology and markers of oxidative stress.


RESULTS
Surgical manipulation resulted in ultrastructural changes in the intestine. Biochemical alterations in the enterocytes were evident, with increased xanthine oxidase activity resulting in production of superoxide anion and with a decrease in antioxidant status. Gut manipulation also resulted in neutrophil infiltration and oxidative stress in the lung as assessed by histology, myeloperoxidase activity, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status. Heat conditioning before surgical manipulation had a protective effect against this intestinal and lung damage.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that mild whole-body hyperthermia before surgery might offer protection from postoperative complications.
Thomas
S
S
The Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore-632004, India.
Pulimood
A
A
Balasubramanian
K A
KA
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005562:Formazans / Q000378:metabolism; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism
D004396:Coloring Agents; D005562:Formazans; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; C079782:MTT formazan