OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of mesenteric lymph drainage on intestinal barrier function in severe intraperitoneal infection (SII).

METHODSThirty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups(model group, drainage group and control group). SII model rats were prepared by injecting E.coli intraperitoneally. Rats in drainage group rats underwent mesentery lymphatic duct ligation and drainage 2 hours after model induction, and those in control group received equal amount of 10% BaSO4 nutrient broth injection intraperitonerally. Six hours after model induction, rats were sacrificed. The intestinal samples were collected for pathology analysis and content of DAO and concentration of TNF-α, IL-6. Content of D-lactate in blood plasma was detected.

RESULTSUnder light microscopy, ileum mucosa tissue structure of model group was disordered. Under transmission electron microscopy, intestinal mucosal epithelial cells of model group swelled obviously, close connection was destructed, and early apoptosis cells occurred. After mesentery lymph drainage, intestinal mucosa tissue structure was improved obviously, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria of epithelium swelled mildly. The contents of intestinal tissue DAO in drainage group, model group and control group were (5.9±0.4) U/L, (3.0±0.1) U/L and (18.3±2.1) U/L respectively. There was significant difference among groups (P<0.05). Compared with control group [(45.4±37.9) μg/L], the plasma content of D-lactate in model group [(256.0±177.2) μg/L] increased significantly (P<0.05). The plasma content of D-lactate in drainage group [(136.9±21.5) μg/L] was not significantly different compared with model group (P>0.05), but was significantly higher compared to control group (P<0.05). Compared with control group, model group had significantly higher levels of TNF-α [(3431.3±23.9) ng/L vs. (2730.0±408.7) ng/L] and IL-6 [(86.3±1.6) ng/L vs. (30.2±0.9) ng/L] (P<0.05), while the TNF-α was (2653.2±324.1) ng/L, and the IL-6 was (50.9±0.7) ng/L in drainage group, which were significantly lower compared with model group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMesenteric lymph drainage can obviously improve intestinal barrier function in severe intraperitoneal infection and may play a protective role in intestinal mucosa.