Gut barrier dysfunction as detected by intestinal luminal microdialysis

To evaluate the use of gut luminal microdialysis as a tool for monitoring ischaemic metabolites, particularly glycerol, as markers of intestinal dysfunction during and after intestinal ischaemia.

A randomised, controlled animal experiment.

National laboratory animal centre.

In seven pigs the thoracic aorta was cross-clamped for 60 min followed by 2 h of reperfusion, while five pigs served as controls.

Glycerol, lactate and glucose in the intestinal lumen and mucosa were measured by microdialysis. Intestinal tissue blood flow was determined by means of colour-labelled microspheres. To assess intestinal permeability, ¹⁴C-polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG-4000) was instilled in a jejunal segment and then measured in venous blood. Intestinal blood flow was reduced to 10% of baseline by aortic cross-clamping (p=0.001) and returned to baseline during reperfusion. Intestinal luminal lactate increased during ischaemia and further increased during reperfusion. The increase was paralleled by augmented intestinal permeability; there was a significant correlation between luminal lactate and venous PEG-4000 (r=0.89, p<0.01). Aortic cross-clamping caused a marked increase in intestinal mucosal glycerol concentrations, which correlated with luminal glycerol during both ischaemia and reperfusion (r=0.85, p<0.01).

Microdialysis of lactate may be useful for monitoring intestinal ischaemia and reperfusion. Release of lactate into the intestinal lumen appears to be related to increased permeability. Intestinal luminal glycerol closely mirrored glycerol concentrations in the intestinal wall.