Diamine oxidase activty and pathological changes of intestine in acute intestinal obstruction

Objective To invstigate alterations of serum and intestinal juice diamine oxidase(DAO) activity in acute complete intestinal obstruction and its significance. Methods Terminal small intestine of rabbits was ligated. Then at different times afterwards pathological changes of the intestine were observed and concentration of DAO in serum and intestinal fluid were determined. Results 12 hours after the intestinal ligation, hyperemia, edema and apoptosis of intestinal mucosa were found with light and electron microscopy. The concentration of DAO in serum and intestinal juice increased markedly. After 24 hours of ligation, necrosis of in testinal mucosa was observed and concentraion of DAO increased more markedly, 48 hours afterwards, most part of intestine became necrotic, but the concentration of DAO returned to normal. Conclusions The determination of DAO in serum and in intestinal juice may be an important index for diagnosis of acute intestinal obstruction and for the choice of surgical management.