DOI: 10.21276/sajp.2019.8.2.3

Pages: 44-50

The SLC22 transporter family, which belongs to the secondary active transporters, consists of many members that are expressed in the kidney, liver, small intestine and other tissues. Among them, organic cation transporter (OCT) 1 and OCT2, which transport many important substances, are physiologically important transporters. On the other hand, after organ transplantation, the transplanted organs (tissue) are exposed to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Moreover, patients must undergo immunosuppressive therapy and are exposed to many drugs in many cases. Herein, we examined changes in mRNA expression levels of OCT1 and OCT2 in the rat small intestine during intestinal I/R. An intestinal I/R model was made by occluding the superior mesenteric artery and vein in rats using surgical-sutures and spring balance for 60 min, followed by reperfusion. In both the jejunum and ileum, a significant change in OCT1 and OCT2 mRNA expression was observed, and the changes in the ileum continued for at least 24 hr after reperfusion. The changes in expression level of mRNA differed between OCT1 and OCT2, as well as between the jejunum and ileum. Data on the changes in expression level of the transporters during intestinal I/R is very important from the viewpoint of drug therapy.