[Propofol reduces intercellular adhesion molecular-1 expression in lung injury following intestinal ischemia/reperfusion in rats]

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of propofol on intercellular adhesion molecular-1 (ICAM-1) expression in the lung tissue following intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rats.

Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=8 in each group). (1) Group I/R in which rats were subjected to 1 hour of occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. (2) Early treatment group (group P1), rats were subjected to the same procedure as group I/R with the additional administration of propofol beginning 10 minutes before ischemia with 10 mg/kg loading dose, followed by continuous infusion at 10 mg(-1).kg(-1).h(-1). (3) Treatment group (group P2), rats were subjected identical insult as in group I/R with the administration of propofol started 10 minutes before reperfusion with 10 mg/kg loading dose, followed by continuous infusion at 10 mg.kg(-1).h(-1). (4) Sham-operation group, rats were subjected to laparotomy only, but received normal saline at 10 ml.kg(-1).h(-1). At the end of reperfusion, all animals were sacrificed. The activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the content of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined in the lung tissue, and plasma TNF-alpha content was also quantified. The ICAM-1 expression in pulmonary endothelium was assessed by histochemical staining.

Results: All animals subjected to intestinal I/R demonstrated an increase in TNF-alpha in plasma and lung tissue, MPO activity and ICAM-1 expression in lung tissue. It was much more pronounced in I/R group. Plasma TNF-alpha content was increased significantly in group I/R and P2. All the increase was less in quantity in the early treatment group of propofol than the other two groups, and there was significant difference in contents of plasma TNF-alpha and ICAM-1 expression in lung between group I/R and group P1(both P<0.05).

Conclusion: ICAM-1 plays an important role in lung injury after intestinal I/R. The early treatment of propofol before intestinal I/R may be beneficial by reducing ICAM-1 expression in lung injury.