ABSTRACT
Adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide proven to increase cellular tolerance to hypoxia and oxidative stresss and contribute angiogenesis. Despite its known therapeutic effects on myocardial, renal or spinal ischemic reperfusion injuries, its local and systemic effects on intestinal ischemic reperfusion injury still remain unknown. This study aims to demonstrate the local and systemic effects of AM on Intestinal Ischemic Reperfusion Injury (I-IRI) demonstrated in rats. Thirty male rats were randomly allocated to five groups: Control, Adrenomedullin (AM), Intestinal Ischemic Reperfusion Injury (I-IRI), Adrenomedullin and Intestinal Ischemic Reperfusion Injury (AM+I-IRI), and Intestinal Ischemic Reperfusion Injury and Adrenomedullin (I-IRI+AM). Blood and tissue samples were obtained for biochemical and histopathological evaluation. The results were expressed as mean±SEM and, P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were found to be elevated in I-IRI group and depleted in I-IRI+AM group. The biochemical and histopathological markers of injuries at the intestine and remote organs were found to be recuperated when the AM applied before the reperfusion phase. Results of this study demonstrated that the therapeutic drug adrenomedullin (AM) could reverse the intestinal and remote organ injuries related to intestinal ischemic reperfusion injury (I-IRI). These effects might be related to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities of AM.