NITRIC-OXIDE AND ARACHIDONATE METABOLISM IN ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION ASSOCIATED WITH PANCREAS TRANSPLANTATION

The role of eicosanoid metabolism and its relationship with nitric oxi de production in the ischemia-reperfusion associated with pancreas tra nsplantation in the rat is explored in this study. Twenty-six male Spr ague-Dawley rats were randomized into 3 groups, as follows: group 1, c ontrol animals not surgically manipulated; group 2, pancreas transplan tation, after 12 hr of organ preservation in University of Wisconsin s olution; group 3, same as group 2 but with administration of N-G-nitro -L-arginine methyl ester (a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) (10 mg/kg ) before organ revascularization. The results show posttransplantation increases in edema and in 6-keto-prostaglandin F-1 alpha (x1.9), thro mboxane B-2 (x4), and prostaglandin E(2) (x5) levels in pancreatic tis sue. Nitric oxide synthase inhibition reversed the increases in edema and eicosanoid production, which suggests that eicosanoid generation i n the recipient rat would be mediated, in part, through a nitric oxide -dependent mechanism.