Use of an isolated intestinal circuit to evaluate the effect of ischemia and reperfusion on mucosal permeability of the equine jejunum

abstract: Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of an isolated perfusion circuit and the effect of ischaemia-reperfusion on mucosal permeability of the jejunum. Study Design: in vitro study of intestinal mucosal permeability. Animals: twelve healthy adult horses. Methods: a control segment of jejunum was placed in an isolated perfusion circuit for 240 min and mucosal permeability was measured. After detecting no deleterious effects of the isolated system on the control intestine, low flow ischaemia was created in experimental segments for 20, 40, 60 and 90 min followed by 60 min of reperfusion and mucosal permeability was evaluated. At the completion of the studies, histologic evaluation was used to determine mucosal grades, surface area, and volume. Results: control tissue was maintained in the isolated circuit for 240 min without effect on mucosal grade, surface area, or volume relative to intact tissue. After ischaemia-reperfusion, mucosal grade increased, and volume and surface area decreased progressively with longer periods of ischaemia. Mucosal clearance of albumin remained constant during 240 min of perfusion in control tissue and was elevated after ischaemia-reperfusion. Conclusions: no deleterious changes were noted in jejunum perfused with this isolated circuit, whereas alterations in mucosal permeability were present after ischaemia-reperfusion. Clinical Relevance: the isolated perfusion circuit successfully maintained an isolated segment of jejunum within physiologic limits, and can be used to evaluate the effects of injury and the efficacy of pharmaceuticals to attenuate these changes