Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
Murine Model of Intestinal Ischemia-reperfusion Injury
Published on: May 11, 2016
Pentoxifylline attenuates ischemia/reperfusion injury to the small intestine in the rat
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hadassah University Hospital Mount Scopus, IL-91240, Jerusalem, Israel.
Abstract:
There is a large body of evidence that neutrophils may play an important role in the mucosal injury that follows ischemia of the intestine. Pentoxifylline (PTF), a methylxanthine derivative, prevents leukocyte adherence to vascular endothelium and restores intestinal blood flow following hemorrhagic shock and sepsis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective properties of PTF in an ischemia-reperfusion model of the intestine and whether its action is mediated through tissue neutrophils as assessed by myeloperoxidase (MPO) determination. Intestinal ischemia of either 1 or 2 h was induced in rats by clamping the superior mesenteric artery, followed by a 17-min reperfusion period. PTF (25 mg/kg) or saline solution was injected IP 10 min prior to ischemia. Multiple bowel samples were harvested at the end of the reperfusion period and evaluated for histology and tissue MPO. PTF significantly changed the resultant histologic damage to the intestinal mucosa exerted by prolonged ischemia of 1 and 2 h duration, although the beneficial effect of PTF in this animal model was independent of the number of tissue neutrophils as assessed by tissue MPO levels. Pretreatment with PTF can thus reduce the histologic damage caused by prolonged ischemia to the intestine.
Insights
Pentoxifylline (PTF) reduces intestinal mucosal damage after ischemia-reperfusion in rats. This protective effect was observed regardless of changes in neutrophil levels, as measured by myeloperoxidase (MPO).
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Research
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Neutrophils are implicated in intestinal mucosal injury following ischemia.
- Pentoxifylline (PTF) is known to prevent leukocyte adherence and improve blood flow in conditions like shock and sepsis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the protective effects of PTF in a rat model of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion.
- To determine if PTF's protective mechanism involves modulation of tissue neutrophils via myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels.
Main Methods:
- Rats underwent 1 or 2 hours of intestinal ischemia induced by superior mesenteric artery clamping, followed by 17 minutes of reperfusion.
- PTF (25 mg/kg) or saline was administered intraperitoneally 10 minutes before ischemia.
- Histological examination and MPO determination of bowel tissue were performed post-reperfusion.
Main Results:
- PTF significantly mitigated histological damage to the intestinal mucosa caused by 1 and 2-hour ischemia durations.
- The beneficial impact of PTF on histological damage was independent of MPO levels, indicating the effect was not mediated by neutrophil count.
Conclusions:
- PTF demonstrates significant protective properties against intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in this rat model.
- The protective mechanism of PTF in this context does not appear to be directly related to its effect on neutrophil infiltration as assessed by MPO.
