Total Warm Ischemia and Reperfusion Impairs Flow in All Rat Gut Layers but Increases Leukocyte–Vessel Wall Interactions in the Submucosa Only

Abstract

This is the first in vivo study showing that total warm ischemia of the rat gut impairs perfusion in the whole small bowel, whereas leukocyte-vessel wall interactions increase in the submucosal layer only. Therefore, the early inflammatory response to I/R seems to be limited to the submucosa. Both microvascular effects may have contributed to the severe morphologic and functional mucosal injury observed after I/R.