Effect of leptin on healing of colonic anastomoses in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Anastomotic leaks are continuing to be the source of major morbidity in colorectal surgery. Previous studies have shown that leptin acts as a growth factor for several cell types. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of leptin on healing of colonic anastomoses in rats.


METHODS
Forty-eight rats were divided into 5 groups. Group I (n=8) sham; group II (n=10) control; right colonic anastomosis, group III (n=10); following right colonic anastomosis, treated with leptin twice-daily 1 mg/kg intraperitoneally, group IV (n=10); before right colonic anastomosis, 45 min of colonic ischemia has been created, group V (n=10); following 45 min of colonic ischemia and right colonic anastomosis, leptin was given twice-daily 1 mg/kg intraperitoneally. On the 7th postoperative day relaparotomy was performed. Bursting pressure (BP), tissue hydroxyproline concentrations (THPC), and histopathologic properties of anastomoses; vascular tissue proliferation (VTP), collagen tissue proliferation (CTP), polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration (PMNLI), mononuclear leukocyte infiltration (MNLI) were analyzed and results were compared statistically.


RESULTS
BP and THPC were found to be significantly higher in group III and group V in comparison with group II and group IV respectively (P<0.05). Histopathologically, leptin significantly increased VTP, CTP, MNLI (P<0.001), and significantly decreased PMNLI (p<0.05) on non-ischemic and ischemic colonic anastomoses.


CONCLUSIONS
Leptin can be used safely in colorectal surgery since it accelerates the healing of colonic anastomoses.
Tasdelen
Afsin
A
Department of General Surgery, Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, 26480, Eskisehir, Turkey.
Algin
Cem
C
Ates
Ersin
E
Kiper
Haluk
H
Inal
Mine
M
Sahin
Fezan
F
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D003106:Colon / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D020738:Leptin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D020738:Leptin; D003094:Collagen; D006909:Hydroxyproline