title: The preventive effects of dexmedetomidine against intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in Wistar rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion is a major problem, which may lead to multiorgan failure and death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of dexmedetomidine on cell proliferation, antioxidant system, cell death, and structural integrity in intestinal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were randomized into three groups: group A, sham-operated or control; group B, intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (IR); and group C, intestinal IR pretreated with 50 μg of dexmedetomidine. Intestine tissue was collected from all rats 30 min after desufflation, and fresh frozen for histological and biochemical evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intestinal tissue of group B rats showed a significant decrease in the antioxidant enzyme activities. However, these enzyme activities were improved by the administration of dexmedetomidine. Inhibiting the protein expression of MCP7, PAR2, P-JAK, P-STAT1, and P-STAT3 proved the protective effect of dexmedetomidine. The immunohistochemical staining revealed its protective effect by maintaining the normal structural integrity, less caspase-3 immuno reactivity, and increased cell proliferation count in the intestinal tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intraperitoneal injection of dexmedetomidine significantly protected intestine IR injury in rats by inhibiting the inflammatory response, intestinal epithelial apoptosis, and maintaining structural integrity of intestinal cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Kang
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Grade 2012 of Medical Department of Graduate School, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit (ICU), First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhu
keywords: Dexmedetomidine Inflammatory–response; Intestinal injury; Ischemia-reperfusion