Ketamine and the myenteric plexus in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury.
OBJECTIVE
Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a common clinical entity with severe consequences. We studied the effects of ketamine and the participation of the myenteric plexus in I/R injury.


METHODS
Rats were divided into six groups: sham, IR (30 min ischemia/60 min reperfusion), KET+IR (50 mg/kg i.p. ketamine injection before I/R), DEN (myenteric plexus ablated with benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and sham operation performed), DEN+IR (BAC treated and I/R induced), and DEN+KET+IR (BAC treated, ketamine administered, and I/R induced). Serum concentrations of p-selectin, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and antithrombin III (ATIII) were measured, and tissue samples were obtained for histological analysis.


RESULTS
IR group had higher intestinal mucosa injury and elevated serum concentrations of ICAM-1 and p-selectin, as well as ATIII depletion, compared with sham group (P < 0.05). In KET+IR group these alterations were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). DEN group showed ICAM-1 elevations when compared with sham group (P < 0.05), and DEN+IR group showed no difference in any parameter compared with IR group. However, ketamine administration in group DEN+KET+IR had no effect on any parameter when compared with DEN+IR group.


CONCLUSIONS
Ketamine was able to diminish alterations induced by I/R. Myenteric plexus ablation with BAC treatment alone had no effects on intestinal I/R injury. However, this procedure abolished ketamine's protective effects. Ketamine seems to require an intact enteric nervous system to exert its protective action.
Guzmán-de la Garza
Francisco Javier
FJ
Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. crcamara83@hotmail.com
Cámara-Lemarroy
Carlos Rodrigo
CR
Ballesteros-Elizondo
Raquel Guadalupe
RG
Alarcón-Galván
Gabriela
G
Cordero-Pérez
Paula
P
Fernández-Garza
Nancy Esthela
NE
D000818:Animals; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000378:metabolism; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply*; D019194:Ischemic Preconditioning / Q000379:methods; D007649:Ketamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012016:Reference Values; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D015415:Biomarkers; D019007:P-Selectin; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007649:Ketamine; D000990:Antithrombin III