Objective This study was performed to determine the healing effects of pentoxifylline on molecular responses and protection against severe ischemic damage in the small intestine. Methods Thirty-six Wistar albino rats were divided into six groups. The superior mesenteric artery was clamped for 120 minutes, and reperfusion was performed for 60 minutes. Saline (0.4 mL), pentoxifylline (1 mg/kg), and pentoxifylline (10 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally administered to the rats in the C1, P1, and P3 groups, respectively, 60 minutes before ischemia and to the rats in the C2, P2, and P4 groups, respectively, during reperfusion onset. Malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6 in serum and tissue were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Intestinal ischemic injury was histopathologically evaluated by the Chiu score and immunohistochemical staining. Results All serum and tissue molecular responses were significantly blunted in the pentoxifylline-treated groups compared with the controls. Significant improvement in ischemic damage was demonstrated in the pentoxifylline-treated groups by histological grading and immunohistochemical scoring. Conclusions The protective effects of pentoxifylline were confirmed by molecular responses and histopathological examination.
Keywords: Pentoxifylline; Wistar rat; histopathology; ischemia–reperfusion; small intestine; superior mesenteric artery.