Effects of 5'-adenosine triphosphate on intestinal ischemia-reperfusion in rabbits

To study whether treatment with 5'-adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an agonist of P2 purine receptors, attenuated intestinal dysfunction caused by ischemia (I) and/or reperfusion (R), rabbits were treated with ATP (15 mgxkg(-1), intravenously) or saline solution (SS) 60 minutes before I by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery and/or R (120 minutes). After I or I/R isolated 2-cm jejunal segments were mounted in an organ bath to study nerve-mediated contractions stimulated by electrical pulses or KCl using a digital recording system. Thin jejunal slices were stained (hematoxylin and eosin) for optical microscopy. Compared to a sham group, the jejunal contractions were similar to sham hosts among I + ATP, but reduced in I + SS, I/R + SS, and I/R + ATP groups. The jejunal-enteric nerves were damaged in I + SS, I/R + SS, and I/R + ATP, but not the I + ATP group. These results suggested that ATP attenuated intestinal dysfunction produced by I, but not that caused by R.