Dexmedetomidine enhances anastomotic healing partly via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in a rat model of colon surgery

Figure 1 Dexmedetomidine promoted postoperative intestinal recovery. A: Intestinal propulsion rate on postoperative day 6 (n = 6 per group). No significant differences were observed among groups; B: Anastomotic bursting pressure on postoperative day 7 (n = 6 per group); C: Representative hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections of the colon. Intestinal anastomosis (IA) group: Inflammatory cell infiltration (arrows) and edema (circles) in epithelium/crypt regions; Disorganized epithelium. IA + dexmedetomidine (DEX) group: Reduced inflammation and epithelial thickness; D: Representative Masson’s trichrome-stained sections demonstrating collagen deposition (IA + DEX > IA). Original magnification: 400 ×; scale bar: 50 μm. ^bP < 0.01. ^cP < 0.001. ¹P compared with the Sham group. ²P compared with the intestinal anastomosis group. DEX: Dexmedetomidine; IA: Intestinal anastomosis; Sham group: Underwent abdominal only opening and closure; IA + DEX group: Dexmedetomidine was infused in the intestinal anastomosis model.