Is Benidipine Effective in Preventing Gastric Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury?

Background and Objective: The preventive effect of benidipine on organs and tissues against oxidative and proinflammatory cytokine damage, whose production is elevated by I/R, has been demonstrated. The current study noted that benidipine affects the biochemical and histopathological effects of I/R therapy on gastric injury in rats. Materials and Methods: A total of 18 rats were divided into either a Sham operation group (SG), gastric ischemia/reperfusion (GIR) group or benidipine+gastric ischemia/reperfusion (BGIR) groups. Biochemical measures and histological exams were done in all three groups after I/R intervention. Results: The MDA, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and COX2 levels were significantly higher (p<0.001) in GIR compared to SG and BGIR, although tGSH and COX1 were significantly lower (p<0.001). The SG group was histopathologically normal. The surface epithelium broke off in spots, causing mild degeneration, the gland recesses were decreased, the gland neck areas were wide, the base areas were significantly oedematous and the blood capillaries showed moderate dilatation and congestion in the GIR group. Infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells was seen in the connective tissue surrounding the arteries and close to the gland bases. The BGIR group's histopathological results were not normal, although they were milder than the GIR group's. Conclusion: The results discovered that benidipine shifted the oxidant/antioxidant balance in I/R damage in favour of antioxidants, as well as the COX-1/COX-2 equilibrium in favour of COX-2, which is cytoprotective. It appears that administering benidipine for antioxidant and cytoprotective purposes before surgical operations that are likely to cause I/R damage may be advantageous.