Effects of Carolina rinse solution, dimethyl sulfoxide, and the 21-aminosteroid, U-74389G, on microvascular permeability and morphology of the equine jejunum after low-flow ischemia and reperfusion.

The research article evaluates how treatments with Carolina rinse solution, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and 21-aminosteroid (U-74389G) affect the microvascular permeability and morphology of a horse’s small intestine (jejunum) after undergoing low-flow ischemia and reperfusion – a process mimicking conditions of interrupted blood supply.

Research Methodology

• The research was conducted on 20 healthy adult horses under anesthesia. Full-thickness biopsy samples of a distal portion of the jejunum were taken for baseline measurements.
• Segments of the jejunum underwent 60 minutes of low-flow ischemia (restricted blood flow) and 3.5 hours of reperfusion (restoration of blood flow).

Treatments

• The horses were randomly split into groups for treatment with one of the three substances being tested. U-74389G was administered intravenously (IV) to 6 horses, DMSO (also IV) was given to another 6 horses, Carolina rinse solution was locally perfused to 4 horses, and the remaining four horses were perfused with a lactated Ringer’s solution to serve as a control group.

Results

• The researchers found that microvascular permeability of the jejunum was significantly lower after treatment with Carolina rinse solution or DMSO, when compared to the horses treated with U-74389G or the lactated Ringer’s solution.
• After DMSO treatment, there was a significant increase in edema (swelling) in the layers of the jejunum in the treatment group, but the increase was significantly less than for those treated with lactated Ringer’s solution or U-74389G.
• There were significant decreases in intestinal wet weight-to-dry weight ratio following treatments with Carolina rinse solution or DMSO, compared with lactated Ringer’s solution or U-74389G treatments.
• Horses treated with lactated Ringer’s solution or U-74389G had increased edema formation and leukocyte (white blood cell) infiltration in their jejunal segments compared to those treated with Carolina rinse solution or DMSO.

Conclusions

• The researchers concluded that both the Carolina rinse solution and DMSO might provide protection against the damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion in the horse’s jejunum, a process that can simulate situations such as recovery from shock or a surgical procedure.