title: The effect of alpha-lipoic acid in the prevention of peritoneal adhesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Peritoneal adhesions, which occur most frequently after abdominal and pelvic operations, may lead to serious complications such as small intestine obstruction. In various studies, it has been shown that oxidative stress may play a role in the development of peritoneal adhesions, and studies carried out with antioxidants reported positive results. In the present study, the probable preventive role of alpha-lipoic acid, a strong antioxidant, in the development of peritoneal adhesions was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 200-250 grams were employed. Under ketamine+xylazine anesthesia, on the antimesenteric aspect of the cecum, an adhesion model was formed with an incision, and half of the experimental animals were administered a daily single dose 100 mg/kg alpha-lipoic acid through orogastric gavage, and the other half formed the control group. Abdomens were opened 15 days later, and after adhesions were scored macroscopically, tissue samples were taken for evaluation of biochemical parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both adhesion scoring methods, a statistically significant decrease was found in the alpha-lipoic acid group compared to the control group (p<0.05). The decrease in adhesions was also confirmed by the significantly lower hydroxyproline levels in the alpha-lipoic acid group (p<0.05). In addition, alpha-lipoic acid decreased malondialdehyde levels in the adhesion region and prevented the increase in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities significantly (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded from the findings of our study that alpha-lipoic acid decreased the development of adhesions in a peritoneal adhesion model and increased the quality of healing. These findings suggest that alpha-lipoic acid, already long used in various indications, may be tried clinically in patients about to undergo abdominal operations.
authors.affiliation: Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Physiology, Ankara, Turkey. fizyomehmet@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özler
authors.forename: Nail
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ersöz
authors.forename: İsmail Hakkı
authors.initials: İH
authors.lastname: Özerhan
authors.forename: Turgut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Topal
authors.forename: Şükrü
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Öter
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D006909:Hydroxyproline