title: Effect of nifedipine on the healing of left colonic anastomoses in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ca(2+) channel blockers inhibit collagenase production and have a vasodilatatory effect. They also restrict the formation of ischemia-reperfusion induced free oxygen radicals. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of nifedipine on the healing of colonic anastomoses in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty Wistar rats weighing 240-290 g were divided into four groups of 15 rats each: a 3rd day control group (group A), a 3rd day treatment group (group B), a 7th day control group (group C), and a 7th day treatment group (group D). The treatment groups were given Nifedipine 3 mg/kg per day orally as three divided doses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bursting pressure values of the anastomoses in the treatment groups were significantly higher than those in the control groups ( P < 0.05). The hydroxyproline content was also significantly higher in the treatment groups than in the control groups ( P < 0.05). Histologic examination confirmed that nifedipine treatment significantly increased collagen deposition and fibroblast ingrowth compared with controls ( P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results clearly showed that nifedipine enhanced the stability of colonic anastomoses during the first postoperative week.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, 58140, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ugurlu
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Canbay
authors.forename: Sahande
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elagöz
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sen
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000187:drug effects; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D023421:Models, Animal; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen; D009543:Nifedipine