The negative effect of hyperosmolar contrast agents that are used for diagnosis and treatment and the protective effect of L-arginin to the rats intestinal mucosa

Nowadays although there are noninvasive radiological developments for diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases of newborn invasive procedures are still in practice. The mucosa damage of hyperosmolar contrast agents that are used for diagnosis and for treatment at newborn is regarded. L-arginin , an essential amino acid at neonatal, and its effect as protection at necrotisan enterocolitis and ischemia and reperfusion are known. This data directed us to the idea that hyperosmolar contrast agents should be protective at the gastrointestinal mucosa damage. In this study to evaluate the damage of hyperosmolar contrast agents to the gastrointestinal mucosa at the newborn period and the protective effect of L-arginin at the experimental model were aimed.The study was performed with 70 rats that were 28 days old. Without sex differentiation they were divided in 7 groups each of them consisting of 10 rats. Only 2 cc oral normal saline was given in group I and formed the control group. Per oral Iohexol was given in group II. After oral L-arginin with a dosage as 3gr/kg was given per oral Iohexol was given in group III . Oral 2 cc diatrizoate Na+meglumine diatrizoate was given in group IV. After oral L-arginin with a dosage as 3gr/kg was given in group V 2cc per oral diatrizoate Na+meglumine diatrizoate was given. Distilled water and 2 cc diatrizoate Na+ meglumine diatrizotate that was diluated with a 50% proportion was given per oral in group VI. After L-arginin with a dosage as 3gr/kg was given per oral distilled water and 2 cc diatrizoate Na+meglumine diatrizoate that were diluated with a 50% proportion was given in group VII. 2 hours after contrast agents and normal saline were given per oral to all groups terminal ileum was explored by laparotomy and ileal segment approximately 5 cm long was resected and the animals were sacrified.The specimens that are taken immunohistopathologically were coloured with hematoxylen for the evaluation of tissue morphology and iNOS and eNOS were evaluated immunohistologically. The levels of NO and MDA at the tissue were evaluated respectively by Griess and Ohkama methods biochemically.In this study although the effect of the damage of hyperosmolar contrast agents to the gastrointestinal mucosa couldn?t be determined immunohistopathologically the increase at the levels of NO and MDA were presented. Also the protective effect of per oral L-arginin onhyperosmolar contrast agents to the gastrointestinal damage were presented biochemically with significant decrease of NO and MDA levels.In conclusion, in our study L-arginin was used as a protective agent and its effect was shown. Before contrast study feeding newborns with formula consisting of L-arginin should have a preventative role at the formation of intestinal damage. Further clinical studies are needed to advise for using L-arginin for hyperosmolar contrast agents forming intestinal damage.