Background/aims: We have previously shown that in the canine small bowel autotransplantation model, adding alpha - tocopherol to Euro Collins solution for perfusion enhanced the integrity of the small bowel mucosa for up to 12 hours in the posttransplantation period. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of verapamil and a tocopherol on reperfusion injury in the canine small bowel autotransplantation model.
Methods: The study consisted of four groups of six animals each. In Group 1 (control group) grafts were perfused with Euro Collins solution while those of Group 2 were perfused with Euro Collins and alpha- tocopherol. Group 3 grafts were perfused with Euro Collins + verapamil and Group 4 with Euro Collins, alpha- tocopherol and verapamil. Autotransplantation model was used to avoid immunological injury. Graft function and mucosal integrity were assessed by the analysis of enzymatic activities (mucosal glutaminase, maltase and lactase) and histopathological examination. Malonyldialdehyde (per gram tissue) was used as an indicator of lipid peroxidation.
Results: Glutaminase activity of Group 4 was found to be higher than that of the other groups at all time points (p<0.05). In the verapamil group (Group 3), the amount of lipid peroxidation showed the greatest decrease in comparison to other groups at the 12 hour time point (p<0.05). Maltase activity in Group 3 was significantly different at all time points (p<0.05). Lactase activity showed no significant difference between groups at each time point. The microscopic appearance of tissue injury shown by histopathological examination of tissue samples obtained at different time points was related to decrease in mucosal enzymatic activities.
Conclusions: alpha- tocopherol is a promising agent for the prevention of tissue injury caused by free oxygen radicals during organ transplantation. Verapamil, as an antioxidant, also has preventive effects in organ preservation. Using verapamil together with alpha- tocopherol in the same preservation solution did not increase the preventive effect of alpha- tocopherol.