Intestinal and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) infiltration by mast cells is increased in rats with portal hypertension (PHT). The aims of this work are: 1- To demonstrate that hypertensive enteropathy in rats with PHT is due to the release of mediators i.e. eicosanoids by mast cells. 2- To verify that prophylactic Ketotifen administration, a mast cell stabilizer drug, decreases inflammatory alterations related with acute PHT (48 h). Serum Rat Mast Cell Protease (RMCP-II, ELISA) and number of mast cells in ileum and MLN were quantified in pseudo-operated (PSO, n = 12) and portal hypertensive (triple calibration of portal vein stenosis, PHT, n = 12) male Wistar rats. Moreover, serum eicosanoids (RIA) and RMCP-II (ELISA) in ileum and MLN were quantified in four groups of rats receiving vehicle (PSOV, n = 9 and PHTV, n = 10) and Ketotifen (PSOK, n = 10 and PHTK, n = 12) 24 h before surgery.

Serum RMCP-II, Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and Leucotrien C4 decrease (p< 0,05) and the number of mast cells and RMCP-II in MLN increase in PHT rats. Ketotifen reduces portal pression (p< 0,05), serum PGE2 (p< 0,001) and RMCP-II (p< 0,001) in MLN. Translocation of mast cells from rat intestinal mucosa to MLN could be a defensive mechanism in acute PHT, avoiding the restoration of an acute intestinal inflammatory response.