Beneficial effects of verapamil on intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury: pretreatment versus postischemic treatment.

We studied the effect of verapamil on intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. Intestinal ischemia was induced by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 30 min followed by reperfusion. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was employed as a marker of the changes in the energy metabolism. Further, histological changes and the changes of water contents were evaluated. Recovery rates of energy metabolism after intestinal I/R were improved by verapamil, administered before and after ischemia, and tissue edema was significantly reduced with verapamil. These findings suggest that verapamil results in an improved recovery of the energy metabolism and cellular preservation, presumably by reducing the intracellular calcium influx.