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

Figure 2 Dexmedetomidine improved intestinal barrier function and modulated inflammatory responses following intestinal anastomosis surgery. A: Serum levels of barrier markers (diamine oxidase; intestinal fatty acid-binding protein) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at indicated time points after surgery (n = 6 per group); B: Immunohistochemical analysis of claudin-1 expression in intestinal tissues on postoperative days 3 and 7 (n = 6 per group); C: Immunohistochemical analysis of zonula occludens-1 expression in intestinal tissues on postoperative days 3 and 7 (n = 6 per group). Original magnification: 400 ×; scale bar: 50 μm. ^cP < 0.001. ¹P compared with the sham group. ²P compared with the intestinal anastomosis group. DAO: Diamine oxidase; iFABP: Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha; DEX: Dexmedetomidine; IA: Intestinal anastomosis; Sham group: Underwent abdominal only opening and closure; IA + DEX group: Dexmedetomidine was infused in the intestinal anastomosis model.