Protective effects of adenosine preconditioning on intestinal mucosa in rats with open abdominal injury coupled with seawater immersion

Abstract

Objective To observe the effects of adenosine preconditioning on the intestinal inflammatory response, the damaged mucosal tissue and apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells in rats with abdominal open injury coupled with seawater immersion. Methods Sixty male Wistar rats with abdominal open injury were randomly divided into 3 groups, each consisting of 20 animals. The animals in group A had 0.9% sodium chloride solution immersion + caudal vein injection of sterilization water (3 mg/kg). The animals in group B received seawater immersion + caudal vein injection of sterile water (3 mg/kg) and the animals in group C were given seawater immersion + caudal vein injection of adenosine pretreatment (3 mg/kg). All animals were sacrificed 6 hours after immersion. Pathological changes in intestinal mucosa were closely observed by histopathology. Levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Caspase-3 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis of the cells in intestinal mucosa were monitored by TUNEL method. Results The intestinal pathological scores of TNF-α and IL-6 for the animals in group B(3.98±0.41)were significantly higher than those in group A (2.46±0.39)(P<0.01). The TNF-α and IL-6 levels for the animals in group B [(2.38±0.39)μg/L and(883.11±34.22)ng/L]were significantly increased, as compared with those in group A[(1.01±0.06)μg/L and(258.09±6.52)ng/L](P<0.01). The TNF-α and IL-6 levels for the animals in group C[(1.88±0.21)μg/L and(582.13±19.44)ng/L]were significantly decreased, as compared with those in group B (P<0.01). The level of Caspase-3 and percentage of apoptotic cells in the intestinal mucosa of the animals in group B [(27.9±4.3)% and(24.5±3.1)%] were significantly higher than those of the animals in group A [(13.8±2.6)% and(16.4±2.3)%] (P<0.01), and the expression level of Caspase-3 and percentage of apoptotic cells of the animals in group C [(20.2±3.4)% and(19.9±2.9)%] were significantly lower than those of the animals in group B(P<0.01). Conclusions Adenosine pretreatment could significantly improve intestinal mucosal inflammatory response in seawater immersion rats coupled with open abdominal open injury, alleviate the destruction of intestinal epithelial structure, and reduce apoptosis of intestinal mucosal epithelial cells. Key words: Adenosine preconditioning; Abdominal open injury; Seawater immersion; Intestinal mucosa; Apoptosis