The effect of pentoxifylline on intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury

The small intestine is highly sensitive to oxygen free radical-induced inju ry. Post-ischemic intestinal tissue damage appears to be due to the formati on of oxygen radicals. Free radical initiated lipid peroxidation (LP) follo wing intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) may disrupt mucosal integrity, I ndirectly, the radicals trigger the accumulation of neutrophils within the affected tissue, initiating inflammatory processes that lead to severe muco sal lesions. In the present study we investigated the effect of pentoxifylline (PTX), a potent inhibitor of tumour necrosis factor production, on IIR induced intes tinal injury. Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: (1) Sham op eration (S): (2) Sham operation + PTX (50 mg/kg i.v.) (S + PTX); (3) 1 h is chemia + 2 h reperfusion (IIR); and (4) I/R + PTX. Animals were sacrificed at tile end of the reperfusion period and ileum samples were obtained, Malo ndialdehyde (MDA) levels, an end product of LP, glutathione (GSH) levels, a key antioxidant, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity tan index of polymorph onuclear neutrophils) stimulation, were determined in ileum homogenates. The results of the present study indicate that ischemia/reperfusion results in a significant increase in MDA content and MPO activity with a significa nt decrease in GSH content. Treatment with PTX returns these biomarkers to control values, A mechanism of this protective effect may involve inhibitio n of neutrophil oxidative burst.