title: Interaction between thromboxane and free radical mechanisms in experimental ischaemic rabbit skin flaps.
abstract: The possible relationship between increased blood levels of thromboxane (TXA2) and tissue levels of free radicals during ischaemia was investigated. Rabbit epigastric skin flaps were subjected to 4 h of body temperature ischaemia, then infused with either the TXA2 synthetase inhibitor UK-38,485, the free radical scavenger superoxide dismutase (SOD), or both immediately prior to reperfusion. After 30 min of reperfusion, increases in the tissue levels of xanthine oxidase (XO) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA), both of which are indices of free radical generation and decreases in the tissue levels of SOD were found. SOD treatment completely restored XO, MDA and SOD levels to normal, whereas UK-38,485 only partially improved all three parameters. None of these changes was statistically significant. Effluent blood thromboxane B2 (TXB2) levels from the flap increased significantly (P less than 0.01) after ischaemia and were reduced significantly by both UK-38,485 and SOD (P less than 0.05). Combined UK-38,485 and SOD treatment was no better than treatment with either agent alone. ATP levels and oedema, which decreased and increased respectively due to ischaemia, were not significantly altered by drug infusion. These results suggest that free radical damage may be related to TXA2-generated thrombosis in ischaemia/reperfusion injury.
authors.affiliation: Microsurgery Research Centre, St. Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Mellow
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Abbey
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Angel
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lepore
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D005609:Free Radicals; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007511:Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013930:Thromboxane-A Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013931:Thromboxanes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D007093:Imidazoles; D013931:Thromboxanes; C039242:dazmegrel; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D013930:Thromboxane-A Synthase