BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR REDUCES THE GUT AND LIVER MORPHOLOGIC AND FUNCTIONAL INJURIES AFTER ISCHEMIA AND REPERFUSION

Objective: To explore the possible effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on ischemic gut and liver injuries after trauma. Methods : Animal models of superior mesenteric artery occlusion (45 minutes) a nd reperfusion (3 days) were used in this study. Seventy-two Wistar ra ts were divided into three groups of 24 rats each. The animals in bFGF -treated group were injected with 4 mu g bFGF/rat in 0.15 mL normal sa line solution containing heparin 0.1% (w/v) through the jugular vein a t the onset of reperfusion, In the normal saline control group, all ra ts received the same vehicle, but without bFGF. Group 3 (sham-operated ) underwent the same laparotomy procedure, but without superior mesent eric artery occlusion. Liver function parameters, the levels of serum tumor necrosis factor a, nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase, malondial dehyde (MDA), tissue bacterial examination, and pathologic study were used to evaluate the results. Results: In bFGF-treated rats, the amoun ts of serum alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase and se rum tumor necrosis factor-cll were reduced significantly at 6, 24, and 48 hours when compared with normal saline-treated rats, However, the changes in nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase, and MDA varied from eac h other as a function of time after injury. The amounts of nitric oxid e were increased significantly at 6 hours in intestine in normal salin e-treated rats and in liver in bFGF-treated rats (p < 0.05). At 6 hour s after reperfusion, the activity of superoxide dismutase In normal sa line-treated rats were much lower in liver than those in bFGF-treated and sham-operated rats (p < 0.05), but the levels of MDA were increase d in intestine in bFGF-treated rats and in liver in normal saline-trea ted rats when compared with sham-operated rats (p < 0.05). At 24 hours , the levels of MDA in normal saline-treated rats were much higher tha n those in both bFGF and sham-operated rats (p < 0.05). Bacterial exam ination revealed that the ratio and the amounts of bacterial transloca tion from gut to liver, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes in bFGF-tre ated rats were much lower than those in normal saline-treated rats. Th e results of pathologic study support the assumption that bFGF provide d protective effects against reperfusion injury. Conclusions: Intraven ous administration of bFGF may benefit in reducing gut and liver injur ies after ischemia and reperfusion, The mechanisms of those effects ma y involve mitogenic and nonmitogenic effects of bFGF.