INTESTINAL NEUROMUSCULAR FUNCTION AFTER PRESERVATION AND TRANSPLANTATION

While it is well known that prolonged preservation of the intestinal g raft causes severe mucosal damage after transplantation, little is kno wn about the effect on neuromuscular function. The entire small intest ine of adult hound dogs was flushed and preserved with cold lactated R inger's solution and autotransplanted either immediately (n = 6) or af ter 24 hr (n = 6). Animals undergoing sham operation (n = 4) were used as a control. Pasting motility and the response of the intestinal smo oth muscle and enteric nerves to bethanechol (100 mu g/kg/0.5 hr, iv) and cisapride (0.5 mg/kg, iv) were determined by a multiple strain gau ge method on Postoperative Days 2, 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Compared to t he control, immediately transplanted grafts and those preserved for 24 hr developed delayed reappearance of migrating myoelectric complexes (MMC), hypercontractile activity, and reduced response to bethanechol and cisapride administration. Animals in the preservation group develo ped more abnormal fasting motility after transplantation, but response s to bethanechol and cisapride stimulation were not markedly different from those of the immediate group. The reappearance of MMC occurred 3 weeks postoperatively in the preservation group compared to 2 days in the immediate group. The results of our study indicate that intestina l dysmotility is augmented in prolonged-preservation grafts compared t o those with brief preservation. The dysmotility was transient and nor malized 3 to 4 weeks after surgery. Preservation and reperfusion injur y to the neuromuscular system of intestinal grafts are reversible and are attenuated by Simple hypothermia. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.