title: Tramadol alleviates myocardial injury induced by acute hindlimb ischemia reperfusion in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Organ injury occurs not only during periods of ischemia but also during reperfusion. It is known that ischemia reperfusion (IR) causes both remote organ and local injuries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the effects of tramadol on the heart as a remote organ after acute hindlimb IR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty healthy mature male Wistar rats were allocated randomly into three groups: Group I (sham), Group II (IR), and Group III (IR + tramadol). Ischemia was induced in anesthetized rats by left femoral artery clamping for 3 h, followed by 3 h of reperfusion. Tramadol (20 mg/kg, intravenous) was administered immediately prior to reperfusion. At the end of the reperfusion, animals were euthanized, and hearts were harvested for histological and biochemical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were higher in Groups I and III than those in Group II (p < 0.05). In comparison with other groups, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in Group II were significantly increased (p < 0.05), and this increase was prevented by tramadol. Histopathological changes, including microscopic bleeding, edema, neutrophil infiltration, and necrosis, were scored. The total injuryscore in Group III was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) compared with Group II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the histological and biochemical perspectives, treatment with tramadol alleviated the myocardial injuries induced by skeletal muscle IR in this experimental model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IR.
authors.forename: Hamed Ashrafzadeh
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Takhtfooladi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IR.
authors.forename: Adel Haghighi Khiabanian
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Asl
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR.
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahzamani
authors.affiliation: Young Researchers and Elites Club, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IR.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ashrafzadeh
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Takhtfooladi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IR.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allahverdi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IR.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khansari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D014147:Tramadol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D014147:Tramadol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D010088:Oxidoreductases