Adaptation of the rat small intestine to ischemia

Pre-conditioned rats underwent one cycle of intestinal ischemia/reperfusion with subsequent assessment of the heart remote ischemic pre-conditioning (IPC). A local IPC exerted an obvious protective action whereas a remote IPC was ineffective. The local IPC depended partially on the nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. L-arginine administration reduced the intestinal injury. The findings suggest that the ischemic pre-conditioning of intestine depends partially on the NO synthesis and that the remote IPC in intestine does not exist.