DECREASE IN PLASMA-LEVELS OF VASOACTIVE INTESTINAL POLYPEPTIDE IN SHORT-BOWEL SYNDROME - EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY

To investigate the behaviour of the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in short bowel syndrome (SBS), an experimental model of massive intestinal resection (MIR) was developed. For this purpose, 20 'minipi gs' were divided into two experimental groups: A (control) and B (MIR) . The parameters determined were the mean plasma levels of VIP and the degree of steatorrhea at four different times: T1 (basal), T2 (one we ek after surgery), T3 (two weeks after surgery), and T4 (24 weeks afte r surgery). The results indicated that, after MIR, a progressive decre ase in the mean plasma levels of VIP takes place, with statistical sig nificance in T3 (p < 0.05) and T4 (p < 0.01). This situation seems to be a direct result of the massive loss of intestinal tissue, and could lead to the use of this peptide to mark the evolution of the intestin al adaptation process.