Rafailidis S, Demertzidis C, Ballas K, Alatsakis M, Symeonidis N, Pavlidis T, Psarras K, Tzioufa-Asimakopoulou V, Sakadamis A. Effect of early propranolol administration on portal hypertensive gastropathy in cirrhotic rats. World J Gastroenterol 2009; 15(34): 4284-4289 [PMID: 19750571 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.15.4284]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Dr. Savas Rafailidis, 2nd Propedeutical Department of Surgery, Hippokration General Hospital, Buiding A, 5th Floor, Konstantinoupoleos 49, 54630 Thessaloniki, Greece. svrafail@otenet.gr
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Savas Rafailidis, Charalampos Demertzidis, Konstantinos Ballas, Michail Alatsakis, Nikolaos Symeonidis, Theodoros Pavlidis, Kyriakos Psarras, Athanassios Sakadamis, 2nd Propedeutical Department of Surgery, Aristotles University of Thessaloniki, Medical School, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, 54630 Thessaloniki, Greece
Valentini Tzioufa-Asimakopoulou, Department of Pathology, Aristotles University of Thessaloniki, Medical School, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, 54630 Thessaloniki, Greece
Author contributions: Rafailidis S, Demertzidis C and Alatsakis M contributed equally to this work; Ballas K, Demertzidis C and Alatsakis M designed the study; Rafailidis S, Demertzidis C, Alatsakis M, Symeonidis N, Psarras K performed the experimental studies; Ballas K, Pavlidis T, Rafailidis S analyzed the data; Tzioufa-Asimakopoulou V performed the pathological analysis; Sakadamis A supervised the whole experimental study; Rafailidis S wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Savas Rafailidis, 2nd Propedeutical Department of Surgery, Hippokration General Hospital, Buiding A, 5th Floor, Konstantinoupoleos 49, 54630 Thessaloniki, Greece. svrafail@otenet.gr
Telephone: +30-2310-992933 Fax: +30-2310-992932
Received: May 28, 2009 Revised: August 12, 2009 Accepted: August 19, 2009 Published online: September 14, 2009
Abstract
AIM: To investigate any protective effect of early propranolol administration in the development of portal hypertensive gastropathy in cirrhotic rats.
METHODS: For the development of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertensive gastropathy, 60 rats underwent ligation of the left adrenal vein and complete devascularization of the left renal vein, followed by phenobarbital and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration. After two weeks of CCl4 administration, the rats were randomly separated into two groups. In group A, propranolol was continuously administered intragastrically throughout the study, whereas in group B normal saline (placebo) was administered instead. Hemodynamic studies and vascular morphometric analysis of gastric sections were performed after complete induction of cirrhosis.
RESULTS: Vascular morphometric studies showed higher numbers of vessels in all mucosal layers in the control group. Statistical analysis revealed a significantly higher total vascular surface in the control group compared to the propranolol group, but with no statistically significant difference between the mean vascular surfaces between the groups. Our study clearly shows that the increased mucosal blood flow is manifested by a marked increase of vessel count.
CONCLUSION: Early propranolol’s administration in portal hypertensive cirrhotic rats seems to prevent intense gastric vascular congestion that characterizes portal hypertensive gastropathy.
