Intestinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Is Attenuated by Treatment With Atenolol in Rabbits

To study whether treatment with the beta-blocker atenolol (AT) attenuates intestinal dysfunction caused by ischemia (I) and reperfusion (R), rabbits were treated with AT (1 mg . kg(-1), introvenously) or saline solution (SS) prior to I (60 minutes), which was produced by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery, and/or R (120 minutes). After I or I/R, 2-cm jejunal segments were mounted in an organ bath to study neurogenic contractions stimulated by electrical pulses or KCl using a digital recording system. Thin jejunal slices were stained hematoxylin and eosin for analysis by optical microscopy. Compared to the sham group, the jejunal contractions were similar in the I + AT and the I/R + AT groups, but reduced in the I + SS and the I/R + SS groups. the jejunal enteric nerves were damaged in the I + SS and the I/R + SS groups, but not in the I + AT and the I/R + AT. These results suggest that AT may attenuate intestinal dysfunction caused by I and I/R.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM, Dept Surg, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pharmacol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biochem, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morphol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUFGD, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM, Dept Surg, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pharmacol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biochem, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morphol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc