Dynamic changes and mechanism of intestinal endotoxemia in partially hepatectomized rats.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the mechanism of intestinal endo-toxemia (IETM) formation and its changes in partially hepatectomized (PH) rats.


METHODS
One-hundred and two adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control (NC) group, partially hepatectomized (PH) group and a sham-operated (SO) group. To study the dynamic changes, rats were sacrificed before and at different time points after partial hepatectomy or the sham-operation ( 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 72 h, 120 h and 168 h). NC group was used as 0 h time point in observation, namely 0 h group. For each time point indicated, six rats were used in parallel. Endotoxin (ET) and diamine oxidase (DAO) levels were determined in serum using Limulus Lysate test with chromogenic substrate and spectrophotometry. Intestinal mucosa barrier was observed under optical or electron microscope. The number and functional state of Kupffer cells (KCs) in the remnant regenerating liver were measured by immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
Serum ET levels significantly increased during 6-72 h period after PH compared with NC and SO groups, and there were two peak values at 12 and 48 h while serum DAO level significantly increased at 12 and 24 h. There was positive correlation (r = 0.757, P < 0.05) between the levels of DAO and ET dynamic changes. The optical examination showed neutrophil margination and superficial necrosis of the villi in the intestinal mucosa during 6-24 h period after PH. The penetrated electron microscope examination showed that the gaps between intestinal mucosa cells were increased and the Lanthanum (La) particles were observed among the intestinal mucosa cells during 6-48 h period. The numbers of KCs in the remnant regenerating liver were significantly increased during 24-168 h period after PH. However, the activation of KCs was predominantly observed at 48 h after PH.


CONCLUSIONS
The mechanism of IETM in PH rats might be the injury of intestinal mucosa barrier and the decrease of the absolute number of KCs as well as the depression of functional state of KCs. This observation is of potential value in patients undergoing liver resection.
Department of Digestive Diseases, First Clinical College, Shanxi Medical University, 85 Jiefang Nanlu, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China. cuipingxu@hotmail.com
Cui-Ping
CP
Xu
Juan
J
Liu
Jin-Chun
JC
Liu
De-Wu
DW
Han
Yang
Y
Zhang
Yuan-Chang
YC
Zhao
D006631:Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000209:etiology*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000502:physiology; D008033:Limulus Test; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D004731:Endotoxins; D006631:Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)