Bernard Rocheleau

Gastrokinetic effect of ghrelin analog RC-1139 in the rat. Effect on post-operative and on morphine induced ileus.

We aimed to confirm the gastrokinetic effect of ghrelin analog, RC-1139, in the presence of opiates. Gastric emptying was verified in rats by counting stomach residue 15 min after gavage of methylcellulose. Normal rats: RC-1139 (0, 0.25, 1.0, 2.5 mg/kg i.v.) decreased methylcellulose left in stomach (47, 36, 12, 10% of ingested solution). Post-operative ileus (post-op. ileus) ileus: gastric residue decreased from 88 to 66, 53, 51% with RC-1139 0, 1.0, 2.5, 10 mg/kg. Morphine in post-op. ileus: gastroparesis was corrected at 10 mg/kg (54%). Ghrelin analog RC-1139 is a potent gastrokinetic in rat; it reversed gastric post-op. ileus, even in the presence of opiates.

Cyclosporin-A Does Not Prevent Cold Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury of Rat Livers

Cyclosporin-A (CsA) has been reported to protect livers from warm ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. To study if CsA has also a protective effect on cold I/R injury, two models were used: the isolated perfused rat liver (IPRL) and the orthotopic rat liver transplantation (ORLT). (1) IPRL: Livers were preserved for 24 h (5°C) in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution alone (group 1), with CsA (400 nM) dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide (50 μM) (group 2), and with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) alone (group 3). Livers were reperfused for 60 min (37°C) (n = 8/group). Cell necrosis was evaluated by trypan blue uptake and apoptosis by laddering and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and by caspase-3 activation. Marked and similar sinusoidal endothelial cell necrosis was found in the three groups while apoptosis was found similarly deceased in groups 2 and 3 compared with group 1. (2) ORLT: Donors received either CsA (5 mg/kg) or corn oil 24 h before transplantation. Recipients were sacrificed after 240 min; cell necrosis and apoptosis were then evaluated. No difference was found between treated and control groups. The current data strongly suggest that CsA has no protective effect on hepatic cold I/R injury. Hepatocyte apoptosis can be reduced by antioxidants, as occurred with DMSO, but introduction of CsA does not provide additional protective effect.