The influence of nicotine in healing of small bowel anastomoses in rats: angiogenesis and miofibroblasts

ABSTRACT Objective: to know the effect of nicotine on angiogenesis and myofibroblast formation in anastomoses of the small bowel of rats. Methods: we randomly divided 60 Wistar rats into the groups Nicotine (N) and control (C), according to the proposed treatment. Each group was subdivided into three subgroups according to the time interval used for the evaluation (7, 14 or 28 days). The N group with 30 animals received nicotine subcutaneously at a dose of 2mg/kg body weight, diluted in 0.3ml of 0.9% saline, twice daily for 28 days prior to the operation, and for more 7, 14 or 28 days, depending on the subgroup. The C group (also 30 animals) received only saline on the same conditions and time intervals. After 28 days we carried out an end-to-end anastomosis 10cm distal to the duodenojejunal flexure in each rat. After 7, 14 or 28 days after surgery, we euthanized ten animals of each group, sent specimens of the anastomosis areas, 1cm proximal to 1cm distal, to counting of blood vessels and myofibroblasts through immunohistochemical staining by the application of monoclonal anti-factor VIII antibodies and anti-smooth muscle alpha-actin. Results: the administration of nicotine led to the decrease in the number of blood vessels measured on the 28th postoperative day and the number of myofibroblasts measured on the seventh day following completion of the anastomoses. Conclusion: administration of nicotine was deleterious on angiogenesis and myofibroblast formation in rats' small intestine anastomoses.