Conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase during ischemia of the rat small intestine and the effect of trifluoperazine on the conversion.

The conversion from xanthine dehydrogenase (XD) to xanthine oxidase (XO) and the effect of trifluoperazine (TFP), a calmodulin inhibitor, on the conversion were examined during the normothermic ischemia of the rat small intestine. Rat jejunums were stored in lactated Ringer's solution (LR) at 37 degrees C for various hours after intravascular flushing with LR. The extents of the conversion from XD to XO (%XO) constituted 21.1% +/- 3.0%, 36.2% +/- 7.0%, 63.2% +/- 8.1%, and 88.2% +/- 8.6% after 0, 2, 4, and 6 hours of the preservation, respectively (control group). The preservation without the intravascular flushing showed significant increase in the %XO (99.5% +/- 6.0%) only after 6 hours compared with those in the control group (P < .05). When the intestines were stored in LR containing 50 mg/L of TFP at 37 degrees C, or stored in LR at 37 degrees C after the intraperitoneal pretreatment with 10 mg/kg of TFP 1 hour before laparotomy showed significant decrease in the extents of the conversion after 4 hours (P < .005) and 6 hours (P < .025) of the preservation, compared with those in the control group. When the dose of TFP for the pretreatment was increased to 50 mg/kg, the suppressive effect on the conversion was found even after 2 hours (P < .025) as well as after 4 hours (P < .005) and 6 hours (P < .025) of the preservation. These results suggest that TFP could be effective on reducing the XO-mediated postischemic reperfusion injury by means of inhibiting the conversion during ischemia of the rat small intestine.