Purpose: To evaluate the effect of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury over the gastric emptying of liquids in rats.
Methods: Fifty-two Wistar rats aged six weeks and weighing between 100 g and 150 g were divided in three groups. A Control group (C), a Sham group (S) undergoing sham procedure, and a Hypoxic-ischemic group (HI) consisting of 18 animals undergoing surgical ligature of the left carotid artery and exposure to hypoxic environment for three hours. Half of the animals were studied in the third day post-HI procedure (Early) and nine in the 14th day post-HI procedure (Late). Gastric emptying was evaluated by an infusion technique using fenolsulftalein as a marker.
Results: After the HI procedure, all animals displayed left eyelid ptosis, and six animals showed minor sideway gait. Histological examination confirmed de brain injury in all animals from the HI group. There was no statistical significant difference among the mean gastric retention values of the three groups neither in the Early nor in the Late evaluation.
Conclusion: Isolated HI brain injury was not associated with delayed gastric emptying.