Oxidative stress markers in small intestine, colon and pancreas tissues of rats with portal hypertension

Portal hypertension (PH) is a hyperdinamic circulation disorder characterized by high portal venous pressure which is above 10 mmHg. Cirrhosis, encephalopathy and gastrointestinal bleedings are the major severe complications of PH. The aim of our study was to evaluate the changes in oxidative stress markers in small intestine, colon and pancreas tissues of rats with PH. A total of 25 male Spraque-Dawley rats were assigned into two groups randomly. Group 1 rats (n=13) comprise the control group, whereas Group 2 rats (n=12) comprise PH group. PH was induced by the ligation of portal vein for 8 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the above mentioned tissues were removed after decapitating the rats. Nitric Oxide (NO) levels and Myeloperoxidase (MPO), Xanthine Oxidase (XO), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were measured in these tissues spectrophotometrically. NO levels were found to be statistically increased in small intestine and colon tissues of PH group (p<0.05) when compared to controls. Whereas , NO levels of pancreas tissue were found to be statistically decreased in PH group (p<0.05). Pancreas SOD and GSH-Px activities in PH group were significantly different than those in controls (p<0.0001). Although small intestine and colon MPO activities and small intestine and pancreas XO activities in PH group were observed to be higher than those in controls and small intestine and colon SOD and small intestine GSH-Px activities in PH group were observed to be lower than those in controls, no statistical significance were detected. As a conclusion, further studies are needed to clarify the role of PH on the production of free radicals and on antioxidant defense systems in small intestine, colon and pancreas.