Prehepatic portal hypertension produces increased mast cell density in the small bowel and in mesenteric lymph nodes in the rat.
BACKGROUND
Because most of the characteristics of the portal hypertensive enteropathy can be explained on the basis of increased levels of mast cell mediators, the purpose of the present paper was to study mast cell splanchnic infiltration.


METHODS
Duodenum, jejunum, ileum and mesenteric lymph node complex infiltration by mast cells was assayed by a stereological technique in control rats (group I; n = 5) and in an experimental model of portal hypertension (the portal vein-stenosed rat, group II; n = 5) at 6 weeks after operation.


RESULTS
Intestinal and mesenteric lymph node complex infiltration by mast cells increased in the animals with partial portal vein ligation. The mast cell density progressively increased distally along the small bowel. The mast cell increase in the mesenteric lymph node complex in portal vein-stenosed rats was greater than in the duodenum (P = 0.001), jejunum (P = 0.006) and ileum.


CONCLUSIONS
The rise of mast cells density in the small bowel and mesenteric lymph node complex in rats with partial portal vein ligation suggests that these cells are involved in the etiopathogenesis of experimental portal prehepatic hypertensive enteropathy.
Prieto
Isabel
I
Surgery I Department, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Aller
María-Angeles
MA
Santamaría
Luis
L
Nava
María-Paz
MP
Madero
Rosario
R
Pérez-Robledo
Juan-Pedro
JP
Arias
Jaime
J
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004386:Duodenum / Q000473:pathology*; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007082:Ileum / Q000473:pathology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D008642:Mesenteric Veins / Q000473:pathology; D008643:Mesentery; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar