OBJECTIVES: To investigate the activity alterations of enzymes in intestine grafts after liver/small boweltransplantation in rats and the relations of these changes to immune rejection of grafts.METHODS: A model of liver/small bowel transplantation (LSBT) was established in closed colony SDand Wistar rats. The activity of enzymes including triphosphatase (ATPase), alkalinophosphatase(AKP), acytelcholinesterase (AchE), oxidesynthase (NOS) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) in bowelgrafts was studied histochemically at regular postoperative intervals.RESULTS: The activity of enzymes in the wall of the grafts disappeared eventually in isolated smallbowel transplantation (SBT) rats. In contrast, the activity in LSBT rats remained and recoveredpostoperatively.CONCLUSIONS: The rejection in grafted intestine could be prevented or delayed in LSBT rats. Thechanges in the activity of enzymes and neurons might be used to detect the rejection and function of thegraft.
