Changes of tissue endothelin-1 and nitric oxide synthase in a sheep model of large intestinal obstruction.
Large intestinal obstruction (LIO) in farm animals can cause a ischaemic necrosis of intestinal tissue, eventually leading to death. The roles of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) are not well understood in the process of LIO, but evidence suggests that endothelial-derived mediators may participate. In the present study, ET-1 concentration and total nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity were measured in heart, liver, pancreas, lung and kidney in a model of LIO in sheep. Our data demonstrated that ET-1 concentration and NOS activity were altered, with significant increases of ET-1 in heart, lung and kidney and of NOS activity in pancreas and kidney, but a marked decline of NOS activity in liver (p < 0.05). It is postulated that these alterations in NOS activity and ET-1 concentration may contribute to the progressive loss of organ function, and finally lead to death in LIO in sheep.
Xilong
Li
L
Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China.
Lei
Su
S
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000473:pathology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011897:Random Allocation; D012756:Sheep
D019332:Endothelin-1; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase