Protective effects of doxycycline in mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion.

In rats splanchnic artery occlusion (SAO) of the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries for 1 hr., followed by a period of reperfusion initiates a severe form of circulatory shock, which typically leads to death within 2 hrs, characterized by multiorgan failure in which neutrophils play a central role. Doxycycline (Dc) pretreatment (10mg/kg; 2 hrs. prior to occlusion) significantly increased the survival time and leukocytes retention in circulation and decreased the hemoglobin levels in the contents of the small intestine. Dc did not influence serum alanine aminotransferase or amylase levels (marker enzymes for liver and pancreas damages respectively) at the time of death. Creatinine phosphate kinase, a marker of cardiotoxicity, was significantly increased in serum from Dc-treated rats. We conclude that pretreatment with Dc has a protective effect in the SAO rat model and this protection cannot be ascribed directly to a specific sparing influence on the liver, pancreas, or heart.