title: The protective effect of methylene blue in lungs, small bowel and kidney after intestinal ischemia and reperfusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the role of methylene blue as an inhibitor of superoxide production by xanthine oxidase.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups of 16 animals: the control group and the experimental group. All were submitted to a laparotomy for the occlusion of the cranial mesenteric artery during 60 minutes. The reperfusion was confirmed by the pulsation of the artery after the release of the temporary ligature and color change of the intestines. In the animals of the control group, 2 ml of saline were injected in the peritoneal cavity and in the animals of the experimental group, 2 ml of methylene blue were injected in the peritoneal cavity. After reperfusion for 4 hours, the animals were then sacrificed. The lungs were excised from all 32 rats. Simultaneously, the small intestine and kidneys were ressected in 20 animals (10 from the control group and 10 from the experimental group). Samples of the organs were taken to evaluate the action of xanthine-oxidase, for histopathology studies and for characterization of the edema.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the animals of the experimental group, the inflammatory lesion as well as the edema in the lung was greater than in the control group. The intestinal and renal lesions were similar in both groups, but the lung damage was superior to that observed in the intestines and kidneys. .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite similar action of the xanthine oxidase in the control and the experimental group, after intestinal ischemia and reperfusion, the protective effect of methylene blue was observed only in the lungs of the experimental group.
authors: Department of Experimental Surgery of the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Brazil. fernando.greca@bbs2.sul.com.br
authors: Fernando Hintz
authors: FH
authors: Greca
authors: Neuza Maria Ferraz de Mello
authors: NM
authors: Gonçalves
authors: Zacarias Alves de
authors: ZA
authors: Souza Filho
authors: Lúcia de
authors: Ld
authors: Noronha
authors: Ruy Fernando Kuenzer Caetano da
authors: RF
authors: Silva
authors: Michel Risnic
authors: MR
authors: Rubin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D008751:Methylene Blue