Basic Research
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 14, 2007; 13(26): 3592-3597
Published online Jul 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i26.3592
Dynamic changes and mechanism of intestinal endotoxemia in partially hepatectomized rats
Cui-Ping Xu, Juan Liu, Jin-Chun Liu, De-Wu Han, Yang Zhang, Yuan-Chang Zhao
Cui-Ping Xu, Juan Liu, Jin-Chun Liu, Department of Digestive Diseases, First Clinical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China
De-Wu Han, Yang Zhang, Yuan-Chang Zhao, Institute of Hepatology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by a grant from the fund for key scientific and technical programs of Shanxi, No. 051094-9, Shanxi Province, China
Correspondence to: Dr. Cui-Ping Xu, Department of Digestive Diseases, First Clinical College, Shanxi Medical University, 85 Jiefang Nanlu, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China. cuipingxu@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-351-4639511
Received: March 11, 2007
Revised: March 14, 2007
Accepted: April 11, 2007
Published online: July 14, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To explore the mechanism of intestinal endo-toxemia (IETM) formation and its changes in partially hepatectomized (PH) rats.

METHODS: One-hundred and two adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control (NC) group, partially hepatectomized (PH) group and a sham-operated (SO) group. To study the dynamic changes, rats were sacrificed before and at different time points after partial hepatectomy or the sham-operation ( 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 72 h, 120 h and 168 h). NC group was used as 0h time point in observation, namely 0 h group. For each time point indicated, six rats were used in parallel. Endotoxin (ET) and diamine oxidase (DAO) levels were determined in serum using Limulus Lysate test with chromogenic substrate and spectrophotometry. Intestinal mucosa barrier was observed under optical or electron microscope. The number and functional state of Kupffer cells (KCs) in the remnant regenerating liver were measured by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS: Serum ET levels significantly increased during 6-72 h period after PH compared with NC and SO groups, and there were two peak values at 12 and 48 h while serum DAO level significantly increased at 12 and 24 h. There was positive correlation (r = 0.757, P < 0.05) between the levels of DAO and ET dynamic changes. The optical examination showed neutrophil margination and superficial necrosis of the villi in the intestinal mucosa during 6-24 h period after PH. The penetrated electron microscope examination showed that the gaps between intestinal mucosa cells were increased and the Lanthanum (La) particles were observed among the intestinal mucosa cells during 6-48 h period. The numbers of KCs in the remnant regenerating liver were significantly increased during 24-168 h period after PH. However, the activation of KCs was predominantly observed at 48 h after PH.

CONCLUSION: The mechanism of IETM in PH rats might be the injury of intestinal mucosa barrier and the decrease of the absolute number of KCs as well as the depression of functional state of KCs. This observation is of potential value in patients undergoing liver resection.

Keywords: Partial hepatectomy; Intestinal endotoxemia; Intestinal mucosa barrier; Kupffer cells