Remote post-conditioning and allopurinol reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury in an infra-renal ischemia model

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the antioxidant allopurinol and ischemic post-conditioning on the deleterious effects of ischemia followed by reperfusion (I/R) in a standardized model of ischemia involving infra-renal aortic occlusion in rats. METHODS: The animals were randomly divided into five groups: (A) animals not subjected to ischemia; (B) animals subjected to 2 h of ischemia and reperfusion only once; (C) animals given an allopurinol dose by gavage, then subjected to 2 h of ischemia and reperfusion only once; (D) animals subjected to 2 h of ischemia and post-conditioning and (E) animals that received allopurinol, then subjected to 2 h of ischemia and post-conditioning. The blood samples and small intestine segments were harvested for analysis after 3 days. RESULTS: The protective effects of the use of allopurinol and ischemic post-conditioning were observed by measuring aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate levels. The benefits of post-conditioning were evident from the total antioxidant capacity and creatinine levels, but these could not ascertain any positive effects of allopurinol. The histological analysis of mesentery revealed that both methods were effective in minimizing the harmful effects of the ischemia and reperfusion process. CONCLUSION: Individual protocols significantly reduced I/R systemic injuries, but no additional protection was observed when the two strategies were combined.