Coenzyme Q10 supplementation and recovery from ischemia in senescent rat myocardium

Many studies have suggested that parenteral administration of coenzyme Q10 (Q10) protects the myocardium of young experimental animals from post-ischemic reperfusion injury. Although parenteral administration, in contrast to per os supplementation, seems to elevate coenzyme Q concentrations in heart tissue, it is not suitable for prophylactic use. In addition, the incidence of ischemic events is greatest in older age. We studied the effect of Q10 supplementation on myocardial postischemic recovery in 18-month-old Wistar rats. The treated group (n=9) received 10 mg/kg/day of Q10 for 8 weeks in their chow while the normal chow of the control group (n=9) contained less than 0.5 mg/kg/day of Q10. The treatment clearly elevated plasma Q10 concentration (286 +/- 25 micromol/l and 48 +/- 30 micromol/l, treated and controls, respectively, p<0.0001) but neither Q9 nor Q10 concentrations in heart tissue were affected by the supplementation. The isolated perfused hearts were subjected to 20 minutes of ischemia and 30 minutes of reperfusion. The preischemic values of developed pressure (DP) but not contractility (+DP/delta t) and relaxation (-DP/delta t) were improved by Q10 supplementation (p=0.034, p=0.057 and p=0.13, respectively) while in postischemic recovery no differences were observed between the groups (p>0.05 at all time points). Also, in myocardial flow, myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) and myocardial aerobic efficiency (DP/MVO2) the groups did not differ at any time points. Although dietary Q10 supplementation clearly elevated plasma Q10 concentrations in senescent rats, the coenzyme Q contents in heart tissue and myocardial recovery from ischemia were not affected. However, it is possible that the site of action for the reported beneficial effects of Q10 is in the coronary endothelium rather than myocardium itself.     

大鼠肢体缺血预处理对肝缺血/再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的：研究肢体缺血预处理对大鼠肝缺血/再灌注损伤是否具有保护作用。方法：雄性SD大鼠32只,随机分为对照组（S组）;缺血/再灌注组（I/R组）;经典缺血预处理组（IPC组）;肢体缺血预处理组（远端缺血预处理组,RPC组）。S组仅行开腹,不作其他处理;IPC组以肝缺血5min作预处理;RPC组以双后肢缺血5min,反复3次作预处理,2个预处理组及I/R组均行肝缺血1h再灌注3h。取血用于血清谷丙转氨酶（ALT）与血清谷草转氨酶（AST）检测。切取肝组织用于测定湿干比（W/D）、中性粒细胞（PMN）计数及观察显微、超微结构的变化。结果：与I/R组比较,IPC组,RPC组ALT,AST,W/D值,及PMN计数均明显降低（P〈0.01）,肝脏的显微及超微结构损伤减轻。结论：肢体缺血预处理对大鼠肝脏I/R损伤有明显的保护作用,强度与经典缺血预处理相当,其机制可能与抑制肝脏炎症反应、减轻肝脏水肿、改善肝组织微循环有关。     

Effect of coenzyme Q10 on free radical centers in isolated rat myocardium tissue

The effect of coenzyme Q10 prepared as an oil solution and a water-soluble suspension (the Kudesan preparation) on the resistance of myocardium of Wistar rats to ischemic and reperfusional injuries and the redox state of the components of the cardiac mitochondrial respiratory chain during postischemic reperfusion was studied. Animals received the oil solution of Q10 with food and the Kudesan preparation, with water. It was shown that the drugs, which produce a substantial protective action on the working heart muscle during ischemia and reperfusion, cause a shift of the redox equilibrium between the semireduced forms of ubiquinone and flavine coenzymes to a higher output of ubisemiquinone. With equal doses of the drugs, Kudesan produced a more pronounced effect.     

Oxygen radical scavengers improve vascular patency and bone-muscle cell survival in an ischemic extremity replant model

We examined the use of oxygen radical scavengers in preventing the no-reflow phenomenon and improving bone-muscle cell survival in an ischemic extremity replant model. A total of 70 Lewis rat modified hindlimb replants were performed after specific periods of cold ischemia and intraarterial perfusion with either superoxide dismutase and catalase, specific oxygen free-radical scavengers, or a control solution. Ischemic hindlimbs treated with superoxide dismutase and catalase showed a statistically significant (p less than 0.05) improvement in vascular patency after prolonged cold ischemia when compared to controls. Histologically, experimental extremities demonstrated greater osteoblast, osteocyte, and muscle cell survival in replanted hindlimbs with patent vascular anastomoses. The perfusion of severed limbs and digits and free vascularized tissue transfers with superoxide dismutase and catalase after a period of ischemia has already occurred may prolong the ischemic "time window" tolerated for successful tissue survival.     

大鼠小脑缺血再灌注损伤的细胞凋亡及尼莫通的保护作用

采用四血管闭塞法制作全脑缺血再灌动物模型, 再灌后４８ 小时取小脑, 石蜡包埋切片。应用末端转移酶介导的缺口末端标记法原位检测到小脑皮质及小脑核有阳性反应的凋亡细胞, 表明细胞凋亡是迟发性神经元损伤的主要形式。缺血前３０ 分钟给以尼莫通能有效地减少细胞凋亡, 尼莫通对小脑缺血再灌注损伤有显著性保护作用     

Fetuin-A exerts a protective effect against experimentally induced intestinal ischemia/reperfusion by suppressing autophagic cell death

Intestinal tissue is highly susceptible to ischemia/reperfusion injury in many hazardous health conditions. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant glycoprotein fetuin-A showed efficacy in cerebral ischemic injury; however, its protective role against intestinal ischemia/reperfusion remains elusive. Therefore, this study investigated the protective role of fetuin-A supplementation against intestinal structural changes and dysfunction in a rat model of intestinal ischemia/reperfusion. We equally divided 72 male rats into control, sham, ischemia/reperfusion, and fetuin-A-pretreated ischemia/reperfusion (100 mg/kg/day fetuin-A intraperitoneally for three days prior to surgery and a third dose 1 h prior to the experiment) groups. After 2 h of reperfusion, the jejunum was dissected and examined for spontaneous contractility. A jejunal homogenate was used to assess inflammatory and oxidative stress enzymes. Staining of histological sections was carried out with hematoxylin, eosin and Masson’s trichrome stain for evaluation. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect autophagy proteins beclin-1, LC3, and p62. This study found that fetuin-A significantly improved ischemia/reperfusion-induced mucosal injury by reducing the percentage of areas of collagen deposition, increasing the amplitude of spontaneous contraction, decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress, and upregulating p62 expression, which was accompanied by beclin-1 and LC3 downregulation. Our findings suggest that fetuin-A treatment can prevent ischemia/reperfusion-induced jejunal structural and functional changes by increasing antioxidant activity and regulating autophagy disturbances observed in the ischemia/reperfusion rat model. Furthermore, fetuin-A may provide a protective influence against intestinal ischemia/reperfusion complications.     

吸入一氧化碳防治肢体缺血／再灌注所致肝脏损伤的实验研究

目的：观察吸入外源性一氧化碳（CO）对肢体缺血／再灌注（I／R）所致肝脏损伤的防治作用。方法：健康SD大鼠100只,随机分为假手术（S）、假手术吸入CO（SC）、I／R、I／R吸入CO（RC）组。通过夹闭股动脉4h、再开放6—72h、10d复制肢体L／R致肝脏损伤模型。S、I／R组吸入普通医用空气,SC、RC组吸入含CO（体积分数为0．05％）的医用空气。光镜观察肝组织病理学变化,全自动生化分析仪检测血谷丙转氨酶（GPT）,流式细胞仪检测肝细胞凋亡百分比及bax、bcl-2的表达水平。结果：S组与SC组比较,各项观察指标无显著差别;与SC组比较,I/R及RC组肝组织呈病理改变,血清GPT及肝细胞凋亡百分比明显升高;I／R组肝细胞bax蛋白的表达水平明显升高。和L／R组相比。RC组肝组织损伤程度减轻,血清GPT、肝细胞凋亡百分比及bax蛋白的表达水平明显降低,而肝细胞bcl-2蛋白的表达水平显著升高。结论：吸入适量外源性CO对肢体I／R所致肝脏损伤有防治效应。     

The Protective Effects of Different-Time-Ischemic Preconditioning on the Reperfusion Injury in Fatty Livers in Rats

Background

The present study was aimed to investigate the protective effects of different-time-ischemic preconditioning on the reperfusion injury in fatty livers in rats, and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the protective effects and the optimal safe ischemic preconditioning time on the hepatic IR injury in steatotic livers.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A rat fatty liver model was established by high-fat diet feeding. We investigated the changes in the concentration of AST, ALT, LDH and NO in the serum, and of MDA, SOD, and MPO in the liver samples in response to different ischemic preconditioning times and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Histological analysis was performed to evaluate the results of the hepatic fatty infiltration. 1) At 24 h after 15 min ischemic preconditioning with 10 min reperfusion (15 min +10 min IP), the extent and area of the necrosis was markedly higher in the fatty liver samples with respect to IR, compared to the normal liver samples. 2) In response to the treatment of 5/8 min +10 min IP, the fatty liver group showed lower levels of serological indicators and liver MDA and MPO compared to the other groups, while the SOD activity of the fatty liver group was significantly higher than the other groups (p<0.05). Compared to the corresponding IR group, all IP groups showed a significantly higher serum NO concentration (p<0.05). Among the fatty liver groups, the 5/8 min+10 min IP group showed the highest NO concentration (p<0.05).

Conclusions/Significance

Fat infiltration could aggravate the ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat liver. Furthermore, ischemic preconditioning could increase the tolerance of the fatty liver, which was induced by the high-fat diet, to hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. The protocol of 5/8 min +10 min IP was the optimal regimen for the treatment of moderate and severe fatty livers.     

Early and late effects of ischemic preconditioning on microcirculation of skeletal muscle flaps

The present study was designed to investigate the early and late effects of ischemic preconditioning on muscle flap perfusion and reperfusion-induced skeletal muscle damage. Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six experimental groups of six animals each. The cremaster muscle flap model and the intravital microscopy system were used to observe microcirculatory changes associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury and ischemic preconditioning. In groups 1, 2, and 3, microcirculatory measurements were taken on the same day; however, in groups 4, 5, and 6, measurements were taken a day after surgery. Group 1 served as a control. The cremaster muscle was prepared as a tube flap, subjected to an hour of perfusion without ischemia. In group 2 (ischemic preconditioning + ischemia group), the cremaster muscle tube flap was subjected to 30 minutes of ischemia and 30 minutes of reperfusion, followed by 4 hours of total ischemia. In group 3 (ischemia alone), the flap was submitted to 4 hours of ischemia alone. In group 4 (control), the cremaster muscle flaps were dissected out, preserved in the subcutaneous tunnel, and submitted to 24 hours of perfusion only. In group 5 (ischemic preconditioning + 24 hours of perfusion + 4 hours of ischemia), the ischemic preconditioning protocol was followed by 24 hours of perfusion and 4 hours of ischemia. In group 6 (24 hours of perfusion + ischemia), the same protocol was used as in group 5 without ischemic preconditioning. Functional capillary perfusion, and the diameters of the arterioles of the first, second, and third order were significantly increased in the ischemic preconditioning group during the early period, but not after 24 hours of perfusion. No differences in the red blood cell velocities of arterioles of the first, second, or third order were found in either the early-effect or late-effect groups. The numbers of rolling, adhering, and transmigrating leukocytes, however, were significantly lower in the ischemic preconditioning group at both early and late follow-up. Ischemic preconditioning of the skeletal muscle flap has both an early and a late protective effect against reperfusion injury. Ischemic preconditioning at the early interval significantly improves muscle flow hemodynamics of the flap and attenuates leukocyte-mediated reperfusion injury. After 24 hours of reperfusion, however, ischemic preconditioning failed to improve the flow hemodynamics of the flap, yet it still protected the skeletal muscle flap from leukocyte-mediated reperfusion injury.     

Prevention of ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat skin flap model: the role of mast cells, cromolyn sodium, and histamine receptor blockade

The objective of this study was to examine the role of mast cells and their principal product, histamine, in ischemia/reperfusion injury. Cromolyn sodium, diphenhydramine, and cimetidine were administered to ischemic flaps just before reperfusion and evaluated for flap survival, mast cell count, neutrophil count, and myeloperoxidase levels. Epigastric island skin flaps were elevated in 49 rats; they were rendered ischemic by clamping the artery for 10 hours. Thirty minutes before reperfusion, the rats were treated with intraperitoneal saline (n = 11), cimetidine (n = 11), diphenhydramine (n = 11), or cromolyn sodium (n = 10). Flap survival was evaluated at 7 days. Neutrophil counts, mast cell counts, and myeloperoxidase levels were evaluated 12 hours after reperfusion. Flap necrosis in the sham group of animals (n = 6) was 0.0 percent, as expected, whereas the control group (saline-treated animals) had 47.3+/-33.4 percent necrosis. Animals treated with diphenhydramine and cimetidine demonstrated a significant decrease in flap necrosis to 17.7+/-8.8 percent and 19.4+/-14.7 percent, respectively. This protective effect was not seen with cromolyn sodium (44.3+/-35.6 percent). Both neutrophil and mast cell counts were significantly decreased in flaps from antihistamine-treated and sham animals versus both saline- and cromolyn sodium-treated groups. The administration of diphenhydramine and cimetidine before reperfusion can significantly reduce the extent of flap necrosis and the neutrophil and mast cell counts caused by ischemia/reperfusion. This protective effect is not seen with cromolyn sodium. The protective effect of antihistamines on flap necrosis might be related to the decrease in neutrophils and, possibly, mast cells within the flap.     

吸入一氧化碳抗肢体缺血/再灌注损伤的实验研究

目的：观察吸入适量一氧化碳（CO）对大鼠肢体缺血/再灌注（I/R）损伤的防治作用。方法：SD大鼠44只,随机分为假手术（S）、I/R、I/R吸入CO（RC）组;通过夹闭股动脉4h、再开放48h,复制肢体I/R损伤模型;RC组行再灌注时,使动物吸入含有CO的医用空气（CO的体积分数为0.05%）,其余两组呼吸正常空气;对比观测缺血肢体大体及骨骼肌组织病理学、缺血肢体湿干重比值（W/D）的变化,流式细胞仪检测肌组织中Bax、Bcl-2的表达水平及细胞凋亡百分比,全自动生化分析仪检测血清乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）和肌酸激酶（CK）的变化。结果：与I/R组比较,RC组动物W/D、血清LDH及CK含量、肌组织中Bax表达水平及细胞凋亡百分比均显著降低,肌组织Bcl-2表达水平显著升高,缺血肢体大体观及肌组织病理学明显改善。结论：吸入适量浓度的外源性CO对肢体I/R损伤有防治作用。     

Preconditioning of latissimus dorsi muscle flaps with monophosphoryl lipid a

The use of dynamic myoplasty to restore function to failing organs is an exciting new application of skeletal muscle flaps. A complication of large flap elevation that can compromise flap function is ischemia-induced necrosis; one approach to minimizing this is to pretreat tissues with ischemic preconditioning. The purpose of this study was to determine whether systemic administration of monophosphoryl lipid A, a drug known to mimic late-phase ischemic preconditioning in the heart, could reduce ischemia-induced necrosis in latissimus dorsi muscle flaps. Forty latissimus dorsi muscle flaps from 20 Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into four groups. In group I (n = 10), flaps were not preconditioned and served as controls. In group II (n = 10), flaps received ischemic preconditioning with two 30-minute periods of ischemia interspersed by 10 minutes of reperfusion. In group III (n = 10), rats received an intravenous bolus of approximately 0.3 ml of monophosphoryl lipid A vehicle only. In group IV (n = 10), rats received an intravenous bolus of 450 microg/kg of monophosphoryl lipid A and vehicle. Twenty-four hours after treatment, all latissimus dorsi muscle flaps were elevated on a single neurovascular pedicle and subjected to 4 hours of ischemia. After 72 hours of reperfusion, latissimus dorsi muscles were harvested, weighed, stained with nitroblue tetrazolium, and assessed for percent necrosis using digitized images of muscle sections and computerized planimetry. The percent necrosis in ischemic preconditioning-treated flaps (group II) was significantly reduced by 57 percent (p < 0.05) compared with control flaps (group I). The percent necrosis in flaps treated with monophosphoryl lipid A (group IV) was significantly reduced by 58 percent (p < 0.05) compared with vehicle-control flaps (group III). There was no difference in mean percent necrosis between ischemic preconditioning (group II) and monophosphoryl lipid A-treated (group IV) flaps or between ischemic preconditioning-control (group I) and monophosphoryl lipid A vehicle-control (group III) flaps. Intravenous administration of systemic monophosphoryl lipid A mimics the late-phase protective effect of ischemic preconditioning in the authors' rat latissimus dorsi muscle flap model.     

当归注射液对脑缺血/再灌注神经元代谢物的影响

目的：研究当归注射液对脑缺血／再灌注时神经元代谢物及血流速度的作用,阐明当归对脑缺血损伤神经修复过程的影响。方法：雄性SD大鼠69只,体重150～170g,随机分成假手术组(n=4)、缺血损伤组(n=30)和当归治疗组(n=35)。制作右大脑中动脉血供阻断(MCA0)模型。缺血2h后,当归治疗组立即腹腔注射当归注射液(5g／kgbw)。在再灌注后3～4h和5～6h,以磁共振成像(MRI)技术研究大脑T2加权成像(T2WI)和局域质子谱(^1H MRS)的变化,观察当归对成像和神经元代谢物N-乙酰天门冬氨酸(NAA)、肌酸／磷酸肌酸(Cr／PCr)和胆碱(Cho)的影响。激光多普勒血流仪观察当归注射液对血流速度的影响,测定脑表面血管密度。结果：与缺血损伤组比较,当归治疗组的高信号强度区信号减弱、体积小,NAA值大,Cr/NAA和Cho/NAA比值小,再灌注时的血流速度显著加快,单位面积内的血管长度增加。结论：当归注射液加快缺血脑组织的血液循环,改善神经元的代谢。     

VEGF 对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的预防作用及其机制研究

目的:研究局灶性脑缺血再灌注后细胞凋亡、HSP70蛋白表达时空规律以及外源VEGF及VEGF抗体对它们的影响,探讨VEGF对缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用及其机制.方法:采用原位末端标记(TUNEL)、免疫组化方法,研究局灶性脑缺血再灌注后细胞凋亡数及HSP70蛋白表达时空分布,采用脑表面使用VEGF及侧脑室注射VEGF抗体,观察内外源VEGF对它们的影响.结果:VEGF抗体能显著增加缺血侧脑组织凋亡细胞数(再灌注12h-7d)及HSP70表达量(再灌注1-3d),而外源VEGF因子能显著减少同侧脑组织凋亡细胞(再灌注全程)及HSP70表达量(再灌注1-3d).结论:VEGF因子可抑制缺血脑组织细胞凋亡及HSP70表达量,提示VEGF参与保护缺血性脑损伤.     

双丹胶囊对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤保护作用研究

目的：观察双丹胶囊对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的脑梗死体积、自由基变化的影响,探讨双丹胶囊对脑缺血损伤的保护作用。方法：复制大鼠中动脉缺血再灌注模型,分别给药干预,在给药后观察行为学、脑梗死率、脑指数、脑含水量、SOD、MAD等指标。结果：双丹胶囊可改善动物的神经行为学评分,明显降低动物的脑梗死率、脑指数、脑含水量、提高脑组织SOD活性、降低MDA含量,并成剂量依赖。结论：双丹胶囊对脑缺血再灌注损伤具有保护作用。     

缺血预处理对大鼠肺缺血/再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的 :观察缺血预处理 (IPC)对大鼠肺缺血 /再灌注 (I/R)损伤的保护作用 ,并初步探讨其作用机制。方法 :建立离体大鼠肺灌流模型 ,36只wistar大鼠随机分为对照组、I/R组和IPC组 ,处理完毕后分别测定平均肺动脉压(MPAP)、肺组织湿 /干重比、支气管肺泡灌洗液中肺表面活性物质磷脂及表面张力改变 ,肺组织标本送电镜检查。结果 :①电镜下观察IPC组肺损伤明显减轻。②肺组织湿 /干重比值IPC组为 4.41± 0 .2 4,显著低于I/R组 ,但仍高于缺血前 (P <0 .0 1) ;③IPC组大鼠缺血 1h后MPAP为 ( 1.88± 0 .2 9)kPa ,明显低于I/R组 (P <0 .0 1) ;④IPC组支气管肺泡灌洗液中总磷脂为 ( 2 33 .42± 14.0 5 ) μg/kg ,大聚体为 ( 10 5 .39± 6 .17) μg/kg ,与I/R组相比显著增高 ,但低于对照组 (P <0 .0 1) ,三组之间小聚体含量没有显著差异 ;⑤IPC组表面张力为 ( 36 .88± 3.49)mN/m ,显著低于I/R组 ,与对照组相比则无显著性差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论 :缺血预处理对大鼠肺I/R损伤有保护作用 ,保护机制可能与促进肺表面活性物质 (PS)磷脂分泌、改善PS组成 ,从而提高PS功能有关。     

Preconditioning Strategies for Kidney Ischemia Reperfusion Injury: Implications of the “Time-Window” in Remote Ischemic Preconditioning

Remote ischemic preconditioning (IP) is a potential renoprotective strategy. However, there has been no demonstrated result in large animals and the role of time window in remote IP remains to be defined. Using a single-kidney porcine model, we evaluated organ protective function of remote IP in renal ischemia reperfusion injury. Fifteen Yorkshire pigs, 20 weeks old and weighing 35–38 kg were used. One week after left nephrectomy, we performed remote IP (clamping right external iliac artery, 2 cycles of 10 minutes) and right renal artery clamping (warm ischemia; 90 minutes). The animals were randomly divided into three groups: control group, warm ischemia without IP; group 1 (remote IP with early window [IP-E]), IP followed by warm ischemia with a 10-minute time window; and group 2 (remote IP with late window [IP-L]), IP followed by warm ischemia after a 24-hour time window. There were no differences in serum creatinine changes between groups. The IP-L group had lower urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin than control and IP-E at 72 hours post-ischemia. At 72 hours post-ischemia, the urinary kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) was lower in the IP-L group than in the control and IP-E groups, and the IP-L group KIM-1 was near pre-ischemic levels, whereas the control and IP-E group KIM-1 levels were rising. Microalbumin also tended to be lower in the IP-L group. Taken together, remote IP showed a significant reduction in renal injury biomarkers from ischemia reperfusion injury. To effectively provide kidney protection, remote IP might require a considerable, rather than short, time window of ischemia.     

Cardioprotective effect of the alcoholic extract of Terminalia arjuna bark in an in vivo model of myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of chronic administration of the alcoholic extract of Terminalia arjuna (TAAE) bark on isoproterenol induced myocardial injury. The TAAE was administered orally to Wistar albino rats (150-200 g) in three different doses, by gastric gavage [3.4 mg/kg: (T1), 6.75 mg/kg: (T2) and 9.75 mg/kg: (T3)] 6 days/week for 4 weeks. At the end of this period, all the animals, except the normal untreated rats that served as the control group, were administered isoproterenol (ISO) 85 mg/kg, S.C., for two consecutive days to induce in vivo myocardial injury. After 48 hours rats were anaesthetized with anaesthetic ether, then sacrificed and the hearts were harvested for biochemical and histological studies. A significant rise in myocardial thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and loss of reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (suggestive of increased oxidative stress) occurred in the hearts subjected to in vivo myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury. The 6.75 mg/kg TAAE treatment group (baseline) shows a significant increase in myocardial TBARS as well as endogenous antioxidants (GSH, SOD, and catalase), but not in the other treatment groups. In in vivo ischemic reperfusion injury of the TAAE treated rats there was a significant decrease in TBARS in all the groups. In 6.75 mg/kg treatment group, a significant rise in the levels of GSH, SOD and catalase were observed, and it shows better recovery profile than the other groups subjected to in vivo ischemic reperfusion injury. In histological studies, all the groups, except the isoproterenol treated group, showed preserved myocardium. The present study demonstrates that the 6.75 mg/kg TAAE augments endogenous antioxidant compounds of the rat heart and also prevents the myocardium from isoproterenol induced myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury.     

Muscle Fiber Viability,a Novel Method for the Fast Detection of Ischemic Muscle Injury in Rats

Acute lower extremity ischemia is a limb- and life-threatening clinical problem. Rapid detection of the degree of injury is crucial, however at present there are no exact diagnostic tests available to achieve this purpose. Our goal was to examine a novel technique - which has the potential to accurately assess the degree of ischemic muscle injury within a short period of time - in a clinically relevant rodent model. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 4, 6, 8 and 9 hours of bilateral lower limb ischemia induced by the occlusion of the infrarenal aorta. Additional animals underwent 8 and 9 hours of ischemia followed by 2 hours of reperfusion to examine the effects of revascularization. Muscle samples were collected from the left anterior tibial muscle for viability assessment. The degree of muscle damage (muscle fiber viability) was assessed by morphometric evaluation of NADH-tetrazolium reductase reaction on frozen sections. Right hind limbs were perfusion-fixed with paraformaldehyde and glutaraldehyde for light and electron microscopic examinations. Muscle fiber viability decreased progressively over the time of ischemia, with significant differences found between the consecutive times. High correlation was detected between the length of ischemia and the values of muscle fiber viability. After reperfusion, viability showed significant reduction in the 8-hour-ischemia and 2-hour-reperfusion group compared to the 8-hour-ischemia-only group, and decreased further after 9 hours of ischemia and 2 hours of reperfusion. Light- and electron microscopic findings correlated strongly with the values of muscle fiber viability: lesser viability values represented higher degree of ultrastructural injury while similar viability results corresponded to similar morphological injury. Muscle fiber viability was capable of accurately determining the degree of muscle injury in our rat model. Our method might therefore be useful in clinical settings in the diagnostics of acute ischemic muscle injury.     

Effects of allopurinol pretreatment on myocardial ultrastructure and arrhythmias following coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion

The effect of the xanthine oxidase inhibitor, allopurinol, on myocardial ultrastructure after left circumflex coronary artery occlusion (40 min) with or without reperfusion (60 min) was examined in rabbits. Pretreatment of rabbits for 7 days with allopurinol (0.1% in the drinking water) resulted in a lower incidence of ventricular fibrillation in both ischemic and reperfusion phases. However, the number of Q waves, ST-segment elevation and premature ventricular contractions were similar in both groups of animals. Examination of hearts from allopurinol-treated animals revealed a distinct decrease in ultrastructural alterations following ischemia and reperfusion. Among the subcellular organelles studied, allopurinol had a preferential protective effect on the mitochondria both during the ischemic and reperfusion phases. In the allopurinol-treated animals, most mitochondria were intact and the cristae network preserved. Our study suggests that the preservation of mitochondrial structural and functional integrity by allopurinol may be an important determinant of its protective actions in myocardial ischemic/reperfusion injury.