title: Remifentanil protects uterus against ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of remifentanil as an antioxidant and analyze the histopathologic, biochemical changes in experimental ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) exposed rat uteri.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar albino rats were assigned to three groups (n = 7). 2h period of ischemia was followed by 1h of reperfusion in the I/R and the I/R-remifentanil groups. After ischemia, no drug was administered in the sham and I/R groups. In the I/R-remifentanil group, remifentanil infusion (2 μg/kg/min) was started in the ischemia period, and continued until the end of reperfusion. After the ischemic and reperfusion period, the ischemic uterine horns were removed surgically for biochemical and histopathologic examination. Tissue damage scores (endometrial epithelial glandular leukocytosis, degeneration, and endometrial stromal changes) were examined. Malondialdehyde levels and catalase, superoxide dismutase enzyme activities in tissue were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significantly lower epithelial leukocytosis and cell degeneration in the I/R-remifentanil group (p<0.05). Remifentanil administration significantly decreased concentrations of malondialdehyde, and increased catalase and superoxide dismutase enzyme activities (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Remifentanil appears to protect the uterine tissue against ischemia-reperfusion and can be used safely in uterus transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yunus Oktay
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Atalay
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The Private Emsey Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serap
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zeynep Kamil Gynecologic and Pediatric Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sadik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.affiliation: GATA Military Medical Faculty, GATA Haydarpasa Teaching Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kucukodaci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem Bingol
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Ozakpinar
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002374:Catalase / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007511:Ischemia / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000077208:Remifentanil; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000975:Antioxidants; D010880:Piperidines; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000077208:Remifentanil