Effects of trapidil on the healing of colonic anastomoses in an experimental rat model.
BACKGROUND
Trapidil has various properties including vasodilatation, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and platelet aggregation as well as, and reduction of, the inflammatory response to injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of trapidil on dexamethasone-impaired colonic anastomotic healing in an experimental rat model.


METHODS
Twenty-four Wistar rats underwent colonic transsection and primary anastomosis. Rats were divided into four groups of six: group 1 (G1), control; group 2 (G2) trapidil, 8 mg/kg per day intravenously; group 3 (G3) dexamethasone, 0.1 mg/kg per day intramuscularly; and group 4 (G4) dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg intramuscularly and trapidil 8 mg/kg intravenously per day, for 1 week. Anastomotic bursting pressure, hydroxyproline level, histopathological grading, malondialdehyde and nitrite/nitrate levels were determined.


RESULTS
Dexamethasone-impaired anastomotic healing was found to be improved by trapidil administration in terms of anastomotic bursting pressure and hydroxyproline content (P = 0.026, and P = 0.017). In addition, histopathological examination revealed an increase in fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition (P = 0.004, and P = 0.015) and a decrease in leucocyte infiltration (P = 0.004). Moreover, serum nitrite/nitrate and malondialdehyde levels decreased when G3 was compared to G4 (P < 0.001, P = 0.38).


CONCLUSIONS
Trapidil may improve the dexamethasone-impaired anastomotic healing due to its preventive effects on inflammatory response and lipid peroxidation in rats.
Colak
Tahsin
T
Department of General Surgery, Mersin University, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey. tcolak@mersin.edu.tr
Nayci
Ali
A
Polat
Gurbuz
G
Polat
Ayse
A
Comelekoglu
Ulku
U
Kanik
Arzu
A
Turkmenoglu
Ozgur
O
Aydin
Suha
S
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D014192:Trapidil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003907:Dexamethasone; D014192:Trapidil; D006909:Hydroxyproline