PROGESTERONE TREATMENT POSITIVE EFFECTS IN THE FUNCTION AND INFLAMMATION OF INTESTINE COMPROMISED BY AORTIC OCCLUSION

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Research
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Aortic surgery causes severe ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), leading to significant tissue damage, inflammation, and impaired gut function.
• Female sex hormones, particularly progesterone (P4), are known to modulate inflammatory responses, showing promise in trauma recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the therapeutic effects of progesterone on intestinal function and inflammation in a rat model of I/R induced by aortic occlusion.
• To investigate progesterone's impact on gastrointestinal transit, mucosal barrier integrity, inflammatory markers, and apoptosis following I/R injury.

Main Methods:

• Male Wistar rats underwent aortic occlusion for 30 minutes followed by 2 hours of reperfusion to induce I/R.
• Animals were divided into four groups: sham, I/R, progesterone treatment before I/R (P4 pre), and progesterone treatment after I/R (P4 post).
• Intestinal function, mucosal permeability, edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, inflammatory mediators, and apoptosis were analyzed.

Main Results:

• I/R significantly reduced gastrointestinal transit and increased mucosal permeability and edema.
• Progesterone treatment, especially post-I/R, improved gastrointestinal transit and prevented barrier disruption and edema formation.
• Progesterone administration markedly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, modulated inflammatory mediators, and decreased apoptosis in the intestinal tissue.

Conclusions:

• Progesterone treatment demonstrates significant efficacy in mitigating the detrimental effects of I/R injury on the intestine.
• Progesterone effectively modulates neutrophil response, reduces inflammation and apoptosis, and improves gastrointestinal function post-I/R.
• These findings suggest progesterone as a potential therapeutic agent for managing intestinal I/R injury.