MORPHOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS OF SPLEEN AND DUODENUM PRODUCED BY HEPATIC ISCHEMIA IN RATS

Abstract

A26 Introduction: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is common phenomenon in organ transplantation and sometimes primary non-function is caused by these injuries (Marzi et al., Transpl Proc. 22: 2004, 1990). In this work, we studied the morphological lesions of duodenum and spleen in rats submitted to hepatic ischemia for different periods using light and electronic microscopy. Materials and Methods: Forty male, EPM-1 Wistar rats, weighing 310 ± 60g (3 months-old) were used. The rats were divided in 4 groups of 10 animals, according to the ischemia time: 0 min (Control group), 10 min (I10 group), 20 min (I20 group) and 30 min (I30 group). After anesthesia with ketamine (25mg/kg, i.m.) and xylazine (50mg/kg, i.m.), the abdomen of rats was opened through a midline incision and hepatic pedicle was isolated and clamped for 10, 20 and 30 min. After these ischemia periods, fragments of liver, spleen and duodenum were collected, fixed in 10% formaldehyde, prepared to paraffin inclusion and staining by HE method for histological analysis in light microscope. Fragments of liver, spleen and duodenum were also colleted and prepared to transmission electronic microscopy. Results: Macroscopic and histopathological changes of duodenum were observed in I20 and I30 groups. In these groups was observed higher splanchnic congestion and detachment of the lining epithelium of intestinal villi was observed in I30 group. Light and electron microscopy showed leukocyte infiltration, vascular dilation and electro-transparent areas in intestinal villi of lamina propria of I10 and I20 groups. Desquamation of epithelial layer and intestinal villi in addition to signs of apoptosis were observed in I30 group. Hemorrhagic areas, dilated lymphatics and blood vessels, increased amount of leucocytes were observed in lamina propria in I30 group. The spleen presented white and red tissues with normal aspect and blood vessels of containing erythrocytes in control and I10 groups. But, the spleen of I20 and I30 groups presented significant increase of red tissue, dilated capilar containing high amount of erithrocytes. Sinusoids containing high amount of erithrocytes and macrofages and high amount of hemosiderine pigments were observed in spleen of I30 group, Conclusions: The hepatic ischemia produced by clamping of hepatic pedicle in rats produced time-dependent splanchnic congestion and this process caused important lesions duodenum and spleen.