Background/purpose: Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a multifunctional cytokine that has been shown to improve small bowel adaptation and enhance cellular recovery after bowel ischemia. This study was designed to examine the effects of systemic IL-11 on small bowel absorptive function in a rat model of intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury.
Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats underwent placement of a venous catheter connected to an osmotic pump, which delivered its contents over 3 days. Rats were divided into 3 groups: sham operation/systemic saline; 30-minute superior mesenteric artery occlusion/systemic saline; superior mesenteric artery occlusion/systemic IL-11, 750 microgram/kg/d. After the infusion, (14)C-galactose or (14)C-glycine absorption was measured using an in vivo, recirculation technique. Statistical significance was determined using analysis of variance.
Results: In control rats, 30 minutes of IR decreased absorption of galactose from 2.62 to 2.02 micromoles/cm(2) (P <.01), and glycine from 2.79 to 1.72 micromoles/cm(2) (P <.01). Rats treated with systemic IL-11 showed improved absorption of galactose of 2.39 micromoles/cm(2) (P <.05), and glycine at 2.21 micromoles/cm(2) (P <.05). Mucosal DNA content was reduced significantly from 7.37 to 5.61 microgram DNA/mg by IR (P <.01). IL-11 treatment did not significantly alter DNA content during this period.
Conclusions: These data show that 30 minutes of intestinal IR significantly decreases intestinal absorptive function in this animal model. When compared with untreated control animals, administration of systemic IL-11 significantly increased the absorption of carbohydrate and amino acid in rats recovering from mesenteric IR.
Copyright 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company.