Collagenolytic activity extracted from intestinal anastomoses of the rat

The post-operative degradation of collagen has been postulated to play an important role in the development of anastomotic leakage in the intestine. However, collagenolytic activity in intestinal anastomoses has hardly been studied so far. We have measured collagenolytic activity, after extraction in an urea-containing medium, in both ileal and colonic anastomoses in the rat, from 12 hours to 31 days after operation. In ileum collagenolytic activity increased significantly, from 2 to 4 (average 2.7) times the control value, at 12 hours post-operatively followed by a steady decline to original levels. Four weeks after surgery the activity was still slightly, but significantly, enhanced. In colon collagenolytic activity also increased up to 4 times the pre-operative level (average 3.0) 12 hours after operation. Return to original levels was delayed in colon compared to ileum but here activities were similar to control values after one month. In both parts of the intestine there was only a small increase in activity at a segment proximal to the anastomosis during the first 24 hours after operation. The amount of protein extracted did not vary significantly between control and anastomotic samples. These data are the first to show a transiently increased extractable collagenolytic activity in intestinal anastomoses.