Scintigraphic Evaluation of the Impact of Pneumoperitoneum on Renal Blood Flow: A Rabbit Model.

Background: Increased intra-abdominal pressure resulting from pneumoperitoneum can cause renal physiological changes, such as oliguria and anuria, in mammals. Although videolaparoscopic operations are common, the occurrence of renal lesions due to these procedures has not been precisely documented in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of pneumoperitoneum on renal blood flow using renal scintigraphy in a rabbit model. Methods: Six New Zealand male rabbits weighing 3 kg, previously anesthetized, were mechanically ventilated and underwent pneumoperitoneum. Each animal served as its own control and was analyzed in two different moments: [99mTc] diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) renal blood flow evaluation in baseline conditions (T0) and 30 minutes after installation of 15 mmHg-pneumoperitoneum (T1). The animals were monitored throughout the study by capnography, oximetry, and arterial pressure median, and were euthanized at the end of the experiment. Results: The quantitative analysis of the scintigraphic images of renal uptake of the radiopharmaceutical evidence reduced renal arterial blood flow during pneumoperitoneum. Compared with baseline conditions, all animals presented a reduction of renal blood flow varying from 16% to 82%, with mean [±standard deviation] of 53% [±24%]. Conclusions: Pneumoperitoneum induces a significant reduction of the renal blood flow, as determined in this experimental method in rabbits and dynamic renal scintigraphy with [99mTc] DTPA is an adequate method to investigate this event in the experimental setting.

Effect of storage on retinol concentration of Cobb and Ross strain chicken livers.

Liver is an important item in the human diet. The present study examined the retinol concentration in the fresh livers of Cobb and Ross chicken strains, after freezing at -18 degrees C for 90 days. The retinol dosage in the liver was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The poultry strain significantly influenced liver retinol levels. The mean retinol value in the fresh samples was 6,678.0+/-1,337.7 and 8,324.1+/-1,158.5 microg/100 g in the Cobb and Ross strains, respectively. These values decreased significantly with liver storage time and reached levels that were 44.1% lower than those of fresh liver after 90 days. The results showed a high concentration of retinol in the chicken livers and demonstrated that more than 30 days of storage causes decreased retinol. Despite the losses resulting from freezing, the ingestion of a typical 100 g portion of liver, regardless of the chicken strain analyzed, exceeds the tolerable upper intake level of vitamin A (3,000 microg/day) for adults.