Changes in gastric mucosal microcirculation and purine nucleotide metabolism during hemorrhagic shock in rats

Intravital fluorescence microscopy and morphometry were used to study the microcirculation in the rat gastric mucosa during and after hemorrhagic shock. Under control conditions the circulation appeared homogeneous and unaffected by superfusion with 0.1 N HCl. During hemorrhagic shock, scattered areas of the mucosa lost circulation. Morphometry showed that the number of perfused mucosal vessels decreased significantly in the abluminal part of the mucosa both in perfused and ischemic areas, the reduction being most pronounced in the ischemic areas, where the number of perfused luminal vessels also decreased significantly. During reperfusion, bleedings occurred from the mucosa. A key finding was that the bleedings always had their origin at the border zone between ischemic and perfused areas. After hemorrhagic shock adenosine triphosphate and energy charge levels dropped significantly in both perfused and ischemic areas but with significantly lower levels in the ischemic areas. The hypoxanthine levels increased in both perfused and ischemic areas. The experiments show that local mucosal ischemia and accelerated nucleotide degradation are of pathogenetic importance in the development of stress ulcers after hemorrhagic shock. The border zone between circulated and ischemic areas seems to be an area of special interest.