Polyamines and the recovery of intestinal morphology and function after ischemic damage in rats

We have followed the time-course of the morphological and functional recovery of intestinal mucosa after 90 min of mesenteric vascular occlusion. At the end of the ischemic period the villi were smashed, but crypts were preserved. Microvillous hydrolase activities showed a dramatic drop when compared with sham-operated controls. Reperfusion was followed by an immediate upsurge of ornithine decarboxylase activity and a significant (p < 0.01) enhancement of putrescine and N1-acetyl-spermidine concentrations, while spermidine and spermine concentrations in mucosal cells decreased. This indicated that, both, de novo synthesis and degradation rates of the polyamines were increased. Treatment with alpha-difluoromethyl-ornithine, a selective inactivator of ornithine decarboxylase prevented the accumulation of active enzyme, but did not prevent morphological healing. It delayed however the recovery of sucrase and aminopeptidase-specific activities. Our results suggest that in addition to de novo synthesis, other sources of polyamines are mobilized to an extent that growth at a normal rate is supported. This indicates that the presence of active ornithine decarboxylase enzyme is not a prerequisite for the restitution of intestinal integrity after ischemia. We suggest that in a situation of inadequate polyamine supply the restoration of vital processes (mucosal regeneration) has priority over the restoration of specific functions.