THE ROLE OF LEUKOCYTES IN MEDIATING MUCOSAL INJURY OF INTESTINAL ISCHEMIA REPERFUSION

The source of oxygen-free radicals in putative intestinal reperfusion injury is unknown. To define the role of the circulating leukocyte in this pathophysiology, we report a rat model of ex vivo intestinal perfusion that permits alteration of the intravascular perfusate. The validity of the model is proven by the degree of intestinal injury produced by reperfusion following occlusive ischemia. Severe damage was noted in the animals reperfused with normal blood; however, reperfusion with a white blood cell-free perfluorochemical significantly ameliorated this damage. The addition of leukocytes to the perfluorochemical negated the previously seen protection of the leukocyte-free perfusate. This study strongly suggests that the intravascular leukocyte is an important mediator of intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury. © 1990.