Effect of nifedipine on the healing of left colonic anastomoses in rats.
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.
Ugurlu
Levent
L
Department of Surgery, Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, 58140, Sivas, Turkey.
Turan
Mustafa
M
Canbay
Emel
E
Elagöz
Sahande
S
Sen
Metin
M
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*
D003094:Collagen; D009543:Nifedipine