Ondokuz Mayis Universitesi Tip Dergisi, cilt.18, sa.3, ss.185-191, 2001 (Scopus)
Platelet-activating factor has potent effects on gastrointestinal tract, and oxidative stress appears to play a role in the pathogenesis of some gastrointestinal tract diseases. We aimed to investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygenation on the duodenal contractility of rats pretreated with platelet-activating factor or isotonic sodium chloride solution. Rats were exposed to hyperbaric oxygenation following platelet-activating factor or isotonic sodium chloride solution administration. The isometric contractions of isolated duodenal segments were measured. We observed that acetylcholine-induced contractions were more effective in the platelet-activating factor pretreated group diltiazem inhibited the contractility, and the contractile responses decreased in calcium-free medium. Histologically, we observed that pretreatment with platelet-activating factor caused inflamatory changes, and exposure to hyperbaric oxygenation exaggerated these effects. These results support the hypothesis which assumes that platelet-activating factor acts via free radical production or via prostaglandin formation and/or directly by increasing the contractility of smooth muscle, and these effects are exaggerated by hyperbaric oxygenation.