Effect of transplantation on tissue levels of substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and serotonin in rat small intestine.

Denervation of the gut, resulting in altered bowel function, has been viewed as an impediment to the clinical success of small intestinal transplantation. This study examined the effect of complete extrinsic denervation of the jejunum and ileum on tissue levels of VIP, SP, and 5-HT in a rat model of small intestinal transplantation. Orthotopic total small bowel isograft transplants were performed in 18 Lewis inbred rats. Sham operations consisted of occluding the superior mesenteric artery of 18 Lewis rats for 10 minutes to provide comparable degrees of ischemia. Six rats from each group were sacrificed 1, 2, and 4 weeks following transplantation or sham operation. The jejunum and ileum were removed and extracted in acid for measurement of VIP, SP, and 5-HT by radioimmunoassay. There were no statistically significant differences in the jejunal or ileal content of VIP or 5-HT or the jejunal content of SP between the transplant and sham groups. An initial decrease in ileal SP content at 1 week following transplantation was no longer evident by the fourth week. We conclude that the extrinsic denervation of small intestinal transplantation has minimal effects on the intestinal content of VIP, SP, and 5-HT and should not significantly affect physiologic function controlled by these gastrointestinal hormones.