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Brain Death Impairs Pancreatic Microcirculation
Author(s) -
Obermaier Robert,
Dobschuetz Ernst von,
Keck Tobias,
Hopp HansHeinrich,
Drognitz Oliver,
Schareck Wolfgang,
Hopt Ulrich Theodor,
Benz Stefan
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1046/j.1600-6143.2003.00317.x
Subject(s) - microcirculation , medicine , histology , pancreas , pancreas transplantation , transplantation , intravital microscopy , pathology , pathological , kidney transplantation
Brain death (BD) influences the quality of donor grafts in transplantation. To evaluate the impact of BD on pancreas grafts, we investigated the influence of BD on the microcirculation and histology of the pancreas in a rat model of explosive BD. A group of Wistar rats (n = 7), rendered brain dead by inflating an intracranially inserted Fogarty catheter was compared with controls (CO) using intravital epifluorescence‐microscopy over 4 h after BD induction; functional capillary density (FCD), leukocyte adherence (AL) in post‐capillary venules, histology and pancreatic enzymes were investigated. Four hours after BD, FCD decreased (333 ± 11 vs. baseline 444 cm/cm 2 ± 5 SEM; p < 0.01) and showed lower values than CO (388 ± 9 p < 0.01). In BD, AL was increased (628 cells/mm 2 ± 110 SEM vs. baseline 123 ± 32, and vs. CO 180 ± 33; p < 0.001). BD caused increased histological damage (CO 1.6 score‐points ± 0.7 SD vs. BD 8.3 ± 7.1; p < 0.05). Amylase was higher in BD (p < 0.05) but did not reach pathological values. We show for the first time that BD causes relevant changes in pancreatic microcirculation, histology and leukocyte endothelial interaction which might have a serious impact on the function of grafts. New strategies for preventing this damage are therefore highly desirable in order to improve the outcome of pancreas transplantation.