Abstract:Objective: To investigate the alterations of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43) in the stomach of hemorrhagic shock rats before and after resuscitation. Methods: SD rats were equally randomized into control group and experimental group. Rats in control group underwent sham operation, while rats in experimental group were subjected to hemorrhagic shock by means of exsanguination, and the shock state was maintained for 1 h before fluid resuscitation. At 1 h after shock induction and 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after resuscitation treatment respectively, the gastric tissues were excised from the rats, and their ICC ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscope and Cx43 expression was detected by both immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis. Results: Under electron microscope, the gastric ICC presented severe edema, nuclear shrinkage and basal membrane rupture at 1 h after shock, which showed little or no recovery at 3 and 6 h after resuscitation treatment, but began to recover gradually at 12 h and returned to the appearance of control group at 24 h after resuscitation treatment. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the Cx43 fluorescence intensity in experimental group was markedly reduced at 1 h after shock, but gradually increased after resuscitation and approximately reached the control level at 24 h after resuscitation. The results of Western blot analysis for the expression level profiles of Cx43 protein were consistent with those of immunofluorescence staining. Conclusion: Hemorrhagic shock can cause both ICC injury and Cx43 expression reduction, and the intercellular communication defect resulting from both changes may be one of the important reasons for gastrointestinal dynamic disturbance during hemorrhagic shock.
