Published online Aug 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i32.4997
Revised: November 20, 2004
Accepted: November 23, 2004
Published online: August 28, 2005
AIM: To analyze the hepatic and intestinal microcirculation in an animal model of liver cirrhosis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to characterize the anti-inflammatory action of antithrombin III (ATIII) on leukocyte kinetics and liver damage.
METHODS: Hepatic and intestinal microcirculation was investigated by intravital videomicroscopy. Standardized models of experimental chronic liver cirrhosis and bowel inflammation were employed. Animals were divided into four groups (n = 6/group): controls, animals with cirrhosis, animals with cirrhosis and IBD, animals with cirrhosis and IBD treated with ATIII.
RESULTS: Cirrhosis facilitated leukocyte rolling and sticking in hepatic sinusoids (1.91±0.28 sticker/µm vs 0.5±0.5 sticker/µm in controls, P<0.05). The effect enhanced in animals with cirrhosis and IBD (5.4±1.65 sticker/µm), but reversed after ATIII application (3.97±1.04 sticker/µm, P<0.05). Mucosal blood flow showed no differences in cirrhotic animals and controls (5.3±0.31 nL/min vs 5.4±0.25 nL/min) and was attenuated in animals with cirrhosis and IBD significantly (3.49±0.6 nL/min). This effect was normalized in the treatment group (5.13±0.4 nL/min, P<0.05). Enzyme values rose during development of cirrhosis and bowel inflammation, and reduced after ATIII application (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Liver cirrhosis in the presence of IBD leads to a significant reduction in mucosal blood flow and an increase in hepatic leukocyte adherence with consecutive liver injury, which can be prevented by administration of ATIII.