Background: We estimated a number of cell populations of peritoneal fluid in rats with experimentally developed peritoneal adhesions.
Materials and methods: The fluid was taken in standarized conditions at the first operation and during reoperation. Animals were divided into four groups. The first group was the control group (n = 20) on which the abdomen was opened and closed without any manipulations (group 1a), and the reoperation was done after 72 hr (group 1b). The other groups (2, 3, 4; n = 20 for each group) were operated, and scarification of the parietal peritoneum and serosa of the bowel was performed. The rats were reoperated after 24, 72, and 168 hr, respectively, after the first surgery. The peritoneal cavity was washed with the 0.9% saline solution. The number of the peritoneal adhesions and populations of the cells were counted.
Results: The highest number of peritoneal adhesions was observed in the group of animals reoperated after 72 hr. After 72 and 168 hr, the higher number of mast cells (MC) and neutrophils was observed. The difference was statistically significant. The percentage of mast cells (MC) increased during the experiment. It was different from other cell populations which decreased after 168 hr. The highest change in number was observed for MC. The highest number of MC was observed on the seventh day after the laparotomy.
Conclusions: MC influence peritoneal adhesion formation and probably take part in adhesion remodeling. MC and neutrophils changed significantly after manipulations in the peritoneal cavity. Probably, they play an important role in peritoneal adhesion formation.