Prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 levels in rats subjected to pancreas transplantation

This work undertakes the study of changes in urinary, plasmatic and tissue levels of Thromboxane B2 (TXB2) as well as in tissue Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) after pancreas transplantation and the effect of superoxide dismutase (SOD) on these changes. For this purpose, streptozotocine induced diabetic rats were subjected to pancreas transplantation. Experimental groups were classified as follows: Group I: Control; Group II: Animals subjected to 15 min of pancreas arterial flow occlusion followed by reperfusion; Group III: Syngenic pancreas transplantation after 12 hours of organ preservation; Group IV: Same as III, but with additional SOD (13 mg/kg) pretreatment. The results indicate that significant increases of PGE2 and TXB2 levels occur as a consequence of the surgical removal, preservation and implantation of the organ. For TXB2 these increases, immediate in plasma and tissue, are not detected in urine until 24 hours after transplantation of the pancreas. The release of TXB2 and PGE2 was effectively prevented in the SOD treated group supporting the role of oxygen free radicals and lipid peroxidation in the processes of ischemia-reperfusion associated to transplantation of the pancreas.