The evaluation of the protective action of antioxidants on small intestine of rabbits experimentally injured by ischemia and reperfusion.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to ascertain the possibility of diminishing ischemia-reperfusion injury by intravenous application of the chosen antioxidants: vitamin C, mannitol, and N-acetylcysteine.


METHODS
The study was performed on New Zealand Red male rabbits, which were divided into 6 groups of 8. In group 1, 5 segments of the small intestine were taken for histopathologic examination (normal intestine). In group 2, segments of the small intestine were taken for histopathologic examination after 3 hours of closure of the superior mesenteric artery (ischemic intestine). In group 3, after 3 hours of closure of the superior mesenteric artery, 1 hour of reperfusion took place. In this group, blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery was measured within the first 30 minutes, and segments of the small intestine were taken for histopathologic examination after 60 minutes of the reperfusion. In groups 4, 5, and 6 the procedure was similar to that in group 3, but additionally the rabbits were given antioxidants intravenously: in group 4, vitamin C, 250 mg/kg; in group 5, 20% mannitol, 3 mL/kg; and in group 6, N-acetylcysteine, 100 mg/kg.


RESULTS
All the chosen antioxidants had a beneficial influence on the blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery. The blood flow in the groups with antioxidants after 30 minutes of the reperfusion was 53% to 57% of initial values compared with 27% of initial values in group 3. In histopathologic evaluation, protective action of the antioxidants was seen in the groups with vitamin C and mannitol.


CONCLUSIONS
Application of the chosen antioxidants reduces injury of the rabbit small intestine caused by reperfusion after 3 hours of closure of the superior mesenteric artery.
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Silesian Academy of Medicine, Katowice, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Byrka-Owczarek
Katarzyna
K
Steplewska-Mazur
Marcin
M
Krasoń
Janusz
J
Bohosiewicz
Tomasz
T
Koszutski
Grazyna
G
Wojtynek
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000975:Antioxidants; D008353:Mannitol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D000111:Acetylcysteine