Objective:To investigate the effect of ischemic preconditioning of the small intestine on intestinal mucosal barrier and liver graft in rats.
Methods:SD rats were randomly assigned into the following study groups: group S (sham operation group, n=8), group A (orthotropic liver transplantation group, n=20), group B (ischemic preconditioning on the recipient rat′s small intestine, n=20). At postgraft 1 h, each 8 rats were obtained from groups A and B. The MDA and MPO of the intestine,as well the serum SOD and NO and liver function were determined. The morphological changes of liver lobules and the epithelial basement membrane and mucosa of small intestine were observed by microscopy.
Results:The one-day-survival between in groups A and B was not significant. The one-week-survival in group B  was significantly increased than that in group A. MPO and MDA in group A was significantly higher than in group B and group S; SOD and NO in group A were higher than those in group B and group S. The mucosal wet weight, villus height and villus wide in group A were significantly lower than those in  group B and group S.The lesions of hepatic cells and intestine unber microscope were milder in group B than that in group A.
Conclusions:Ischemic preconditioning of the recipient rat small intestine has early protective effect on liver graft.