Mibefradil, a T-type Ca2+ channel blocker, protects against mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion-induced oxidative injury and histologic alterations in intestinal mucosa in rats.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether mibefradil can reduce oxidative stress and histologic damage in the rat small bowel subjected to mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion injury. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 210 and 220 g were divided into three groups, each containing 10 rats: group 1, sham operation; group 2, untreated ischemia-reperfusion; and group 3, ischemia-reperfusion plus mibefradil treatment group. Intestinal ischemia for 45 min and reperfusion for 60 min were applied. Ileal specimens were obtained to determine the tissue levels of MDA, CAT, SOD, and GSH-Px and histologic changes. In group 2, MDA values were significantly increased compared to those in groups 1 and 3. In addition, SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px values decreased significantly in group 2 compared to groups 1 and 3. The intestinal injury score increased significantly in group 2 and 3 rats compared to group 1 rats. However, this increase was reduced in group 3 rats compared to group 2. Histopathologically, the rats in group 1 had essentially normal testicular architecture. In group 2 rats, the lesions varied between grade 3 and grade 5. In contrast, most of the specimens in the mibefradil-treated group 3 showed grade 1 injury. Mibefradil plays a role in attenuating reperfusion injury of the small intestine by depressing free radical production and mucosal injury score and regulating postischemic intestinal perfusion while restoring intestinal microcirculatory blood flow and encountered histologic injury.