PROGESTERONE TREATMENT POSITIVE EFFECTS IN THE FUNCTION AND INFLAMMATION OF INTESTINE COMPROMISED BYAORTIC OCCLUSION.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomized to 4 groups: Sham, surgically manipulated; IR, animals subjected to I/R; P4 Pre, animals treated with P4 30 minutes before I/R and P4 Post, treated immediately after flow reestablishment. I/R was induced by catheter 2F insufflation in the descending aorta, occluded for 30 min, followed by reperfusion for 2 h. Intestinal function, inflammatory and apoptosis markers, and mesenteric microcirculation were analyzed.

Results: Aortic occlusion led to systemic changes and intestinal homeostasis disruption. The I/R decreased the gastrointestinal transit (Sham 69%, IR 46%; P = 0.0014) and the progesterone reduced impact induced by I/R (IR 46%, P4 Post 60%; P = 0.0461). The treatment prevented the increase of epithelial mucosal barrier permeability and edema formation triggered by I/R (Sham 0.2770 ng/mL vs I/R 5.455 ng/mL; P = 0.0048) and (P4 Pre 2.027 ng/mL; P = 0.0393). It also reduced inflammatory cell infiltration to intestinal tissue (IR 0.5876 vs P4 Pre 0.1818; P = 0.0003 and P4 Post 0.1393 stained area/tissue area; P < 0.0001), modulating the release of inflammatory mediators and apoptosis markers (IR 0.1806 vs P4 Pre 0.0468; P = 0.0452).

Conclusion: Progesterone treatment was effective in modulating the neutrophil response and other inflammatory markers, decreased apoptosis, and improved gastrointestinal function triggered by I/R.