Free radical related myocardial mitochondrial damage following limb ischaemia-reperfusion.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to define the following: (1) if reperfusion of ischaemic limbs could cause myocardial damage; (2) if reactive oxygen metabolites are involved in such possible damage.


METHODS
Ten rats underwent ischaemia-reperfusion of the lower limbs (group A) and 10 underwent the same procedure following treatment with ascorbic acid (group B). Ten rats were used as a control group (group C).


RESULTS
The incidence of severe myocardial mitochondrial damage and serum malondialdehyde concentrations 30 min after reperfusion were both higher in group A than in groups B and C [8/10, 2/10, and 0/10, p < 0.05 and 7.25 (SEM 0.33), 5.30(0.26), and 4.89(0.23) mumol.litre-1, p < 0.05, respectively].


CONCLUSIONS
Ischaemia-reperfusion of the lower limbs may cause mitochondrial damage in the myocardium and reactive oxygen metabolites could mediate this damage.
Bastounis
E
E
Athens Medical School, First Surgical Department of Laikon Hospital, Greece.
Hadjinikolaou
L
L
Pikoulis
M
M
Tsigris
C
C
Marinos
E
E
Toutouzas
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D015424:Reperfusion; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D001205:Ascorbic Acid