title: The beneficial effects of dichloroacetate in acute limb ischemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of dichloroacetate (DCA) in acute limb ischemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anterior tibialis muscle samples of DCA-treated and control animals (Sprague Dawley rats) were collected and assayed for pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, lactate, adenosine triphosphate, and creatine phosphate using spectrophotometry. A physiograph was used to measure fatigability. In an ischemia/reperfusion model using New Zealand rabbits, serum lactate and end-tidal CO2 were compared. Skeletal muscle was evaluated microscopically for muscle necrosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DCA administration resulted in a 50% increase in pyruvate dehydrogenase activity (p = 0.025), reversal of the increase in lactate levels seen during acute limb ischemia (p = 0.41), a significant increase in the time to skeletal muscle fatigue (p = 0.05), a trend toward increased adenosine triphosphate (p = 0.07), and a significant increase in creatine phosphate (p < 0.02). DCA treatment resulted in a decrease in serum lactate (p < 0.01) and end-tidal CO2 (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In acute limb ischemia and reperfusion, DCA administration provides metabolic protection to skeletal muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, 620 John Paul Jones Circle, Portsmouth, VA 23708, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Platz
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rushing
authors.forename: Jaime L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Fredrick N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Southern
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000818:Animals; D000868:Anterior Compartment Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003999:Dichloroacetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D009336:Necrosis; D010807:Physical Endurance; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015424:Reperfusion
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D003999:Dichloroacetic Acid