Thesis (M.Sc.)--Chulalongkorn University, 2004

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) is a serious condition with high mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of moderate hypothermia on intestinal IR in rats. Four groups of rats were studied, n=8 per group: A) sham at normothermia (36 ํ-38 ํC); B) 30 min intestinal ischemia followed by 90 min reperfusion at normothermia; C) sham at moderate hypothermia (32 ํ-34 ํC); and D) 30 min intestinal ischemia followed by 90 min reperfusion at moderate hypothermia. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 1-beta (IL-1beta), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were determined using ELISA and intestinal histological injury was graded. The results showed that serum TNF-alpha and sICAM-1 levels were increased significanty together with intestinal injury following intestinal IR at normothermia. The elevation of serum sICAM-1 levels and tissue injury were attenuated by moderate hypothermia.There was no difference in serum IL-1beta among all groups. In addition, there was no difference in serum TNF-alpha, sICAM-1 or intestinal histology between sham animals at normothermia and sham animals at moderate hypothermia. In conclusion, moderate hypothermia ameliorates intestinal injury and the elevation of serum sICAM-1 following intestinal IR. Moderate hypothermia can be applied in sham animals without affecting serum TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, slCAM-1 levels and intestinal histology