Effects of nitric oxide on reperfusion injury following pancreaticoduodenal transplantation in rats.

Objective: To investigate the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on reperfusion injury following pancreaticoduodenal transplantation in rats.

Methods: The homologous male Wistar rat model of heterotopic total pancreaticoduodenal transplantation was used. The L-arginine (L-Arg) group received intravenous injection of L-Arg 5 minutes before and after reperfusion at a dose of 200 mg/kg while the N-Nitro-L-Arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) group received intravenous injection of L-NAME at a dose of 10 mg/kg, and control group received saline. The amount of NO in the pancreas graft was measured. Serum concentration of cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay, expression of CINC mRNA detected by Northern blot assay, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the pancreas graft were measured. Histological observation was performed.

Results: The amount of NO in the L-Arg group was higher than in the control group, while in the L-NAME group was lower than in the control group (P < 0.05). The peak of serum CINC concentration occurred 3 hours after reperfusion with significant difference among groups. Expression peak of CINC mRNA in the pancreas graft occurred 3 hours after reperfusion. The expression level in the L-Arg group was lower than in the control group, the L-NAME group was higher than control group (P < 0.05). MPO activity in the L-Arg group obviously decreasd compared with other groups. The pancreas inflammation was ameliorated in L-Arg group, and pancreas damage was aggravated in L-NAME group.

Conclusions: L-Arg can increase the amount of NO and inhibit the elevation of CINC, CINC mRNA expression, and early neutrophil accumulation in the transplanted pancreas. NO has protective effects on the ischemia/reperfusion injury of pancreaticoduodenal transplantation.