The role of oxygen radicals in dye-mediated photodynamic effects in Escherichia coli B

Photosensitive dyes representative of the thiazines, xanthenes, acridines, and phenazines mediated phototoxicity in Escherichia coli B. The observed phototoxicity was sensitizer-, light-, and oxygen-dependent and is therefore a photodynamic effect. Hydroxyl radical scavengers conferred protection against the photodynamic action of all of the representative dyes. The extent of protection was dependent on the concentration of scavenger and on the in vitro reactivity of the scavenger with the hydroxyl radical. Exogenous superoxide dismutase and catalase partially protected the cells against the dye-mediated phototoxicity, and prior induction of intracellular superoxide dismutase and catalase by growth in glucose minimal medium containing manganese and paraquat substantially protected E. coli B against the photodynamic action of all of the dyes examined. Combinations of protective treatments against the phototoxicity of all four classes of dyes, including superoxide dismutase and catalase preinduction and addition of extracellular superoxide dismutase and catalase or the addition of hydroxyl radical scavengers, provided nearly complete protection against the oxygen-dependent component of dye-mediated lethality. E. coli B grown in glucose minimal medium containing manganese and photosensitive dyes induced manganese superoxide dismutase. The extent of induction was correlated with the dyes' ability to photooxidize NADH in vitro. Thus, oxygen radicals are primarily responsible for the oxygen-dependent toxicity of the photosensitive dyes examined, and one adaptive response of E. coli B to a dye-mediated oxidative threat is to induce superoxide dismutase.     

O2- photogenerated from aqueous solutions of tetracycline antibiotics (pH 7.3) as evidenced by DMPO spin trapping and cytochrome c reduction

UV-irradiation of several tetracycline antibiotics in aqueous buffer (pH 7.3) resulted in the generation of the superoxide anion radical (O2-) which was detected by cytochrome c reduction and by spin trapping with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide and was inhibited by superoxide dismutase. A comparison of the O2- yields from the tetracyclines examined showed the trend chlortetracycline (CTC) greater than oxytetracycline (OXY) greater than demeclocycline (DEM) much greater than (doxycycline (DOXY) = tetracycline (TC) = minocycline (MINO) = 0). This trend is in reasonable agreement with clinical reports that CTC, OXY and DEM are potent photosensitizers, TC is only weakly phototoxic whereas MINO is not. These findings suggest that the O2- production may be involved in tetracycline-induced phototoxicity. While the two methods for O2- detection gave comparable results for most of the tetracyclines, the spin trapping technique was clearly superior for DOXY which reduced cytochrome c in the dark.     

Effect of superoxide dismutase, catalase, chelating agents, and free radical scavengers on the toxicity of alloxan to isolated pancreatic islets in vitro.

The effect of superoxide dismutase, catalase, metal-chelating agents and hydroxyl radical scavengers on the toxicity of alloxan to isolated ob/ob mouse pancreatic islets in vitro has been compared with the reported ability of such substances to protect against alloxan diabetes in vivo. Superoxide dismutase and catalase protected beta-cells of isolated pancreatic islets against alloxan cytotoxicity, as did the hydroxyl radical scavengers dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and butanol. However, 1,3-dimethylurea and thiourea, that are recognised as effective hydroxyl radical scavengers and that protect animals against the diabetogenic effects of alloxan, were without effect. Similarly, desferrioxamine, that inhibits hydroxyl radical formation from alloxan in chemically defined systems, did not protect against alloxan toxicity. Diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, which does not inhibit hydroxyl radical formation from alloxan, also gave no significant protection. The results indicate a role for superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide in the mechanism of toxicity of alloxan but do not support the involvement of the hydroxyl radical in this process. Alternative explanations must be sought for the ability of hydroxyl radical scavengers and metal-chelating agents to protect against alloxan toxicity in vivo.     

Tetracycline resistance determinants from groups A to D vary in their ability to confer decreased accumulation of tetracycline derivatives by Escherichia coli

The ability of four genetically distinct plasmid-located tetracycline resistance determinants (TetA, B, C and D) to confer decreased accumulation of tetracycline and some of its analogues by Escherichia coli K12 was examined. Accumulation of oxytetracycline, tetracycline, demethylchlorotetracycline, 6-demethyl-6-deoxy-5-hydroxy-6-methylene-tetracycline, chlorotetracycline, doxycycline and 6-demethyl-6-deoxytetracycline was examined by fluorescence spectroscopy. The determinants varied in their ability to promote decreased accumulation of tetracyclines, defined as an R+/R- fluorescence ratio of less than 0.85. Plasmid pIP7 (TetA) caused reduced accumulation of only oxytetracycline, tetracycline and chlorotetracycline, but plasmid pDU301 (TetB) promoted reduced accumulation of all the compounds tested except 6-demethyl-6-deoxytetracycline. The TetC determinant of pBR322 caused decreased uptake of five derivatives, but not doxycycline or 6-demethyl-6-deoxytetracycline. Plasmid RA1 (TetD) encoded reduced accumulation of oxytetracycline, tetracycline, 6-demethyl-6-deoxy-5-hydroxy-6-methylenetetracycline and chlorotetracycline. In general, the resistance determinants were more efficient in promoting decreased accumulation of hydrophilic tetracyclines. These accumulation studies provide a satisfactory method for the phenotypic identification of Tet resistance determinants.     

Oxygen Toxicity and the Superoxide Dismutase

Oxygen caused an increase in the amount of superoxide dismutase in Escherichia coli B but not in Bacillus subtilis. E. coli B cells, induced by growth under 100% O(2), were much more resistant to the lethal effects of 20 atm of O(2) than were cells which contained the low uninduced level of this enzyme. In contrast, B. subtilis, which could not respond to O(2) by increasing its content of superoxide dismutase, remained equally sensitive to hyperbaric O(2) whether grown under 100% O(2) or areobically. The catalase in these organisms exhibited a reciprocal response to oxygen. Thus, the catalase of E. coli B was not induced by O(2), whereas that of B. subtilis was so induced. These results are consistent with the view that superoxide dismutase is an important component of the defenses of these organisms against the toxicity of oxygen, whereas their catalases are of secondary importance in this respect. The ability of streptonigrin to generate O(2) (-), by a cycle of reduction followed by spontaneous reoxidation, has been verified in vitro. It is further observed that E. coli B which contain the high induced level of superoxide dismutase were more resistant to the lethality of this antibiotic, in the presence of oxygen, than were E. coli B which contained the low uninduced level of this enzyme. This difference between induced and uninduced cells was eliminated by the removal of O(2). These results are consistent with the proposal that the enhanced lethality of streptonigrin under aerobic conditions may relate to its in vivo generation of O(2) (-) by a cycle of reduction and spontaneous reoxidation. In toto, these observations lend support to the hypothesis that O(2) (-) is an important agent of oxygen toxicity and that superoxide dismutase functions to blunt the threat posed by this reactive radical.     

Hydroxyl radical generation by the tetracycline antibiotics with free radical damage to DNA, lipids and carbohydrate in the presence of iron and copper salts

Tetracycline antibiotics caused the degradation of carbohydrate in the presence of a ferric salt at pH 7.4. This degradation appeared to involve hydroxyl radicals since the damage was substantially reduced by the presence of catalase, superoxide dismutase, scavengers of the hydroxyl radical and metal chelators. Similarly, the tetracycline antibiotics in the presence of a ferric salt greatly stimulated the peroxidation of liposomal membranes. This damage, which did not implicate the hydroxyl radical, was significantly reduced by the addition of chain-breaking antioxidants and metal chelators. Only copper salts in the presence of tetracycline antibiotics, however, caused substantial damage to linear duplex DNA. Studies with inhibitors suggested that damage to DNA did involve hydroxyl radicals.     

Effects of disodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Na2EDTA) and tetracyclines on drug resistant bacteria. Studies in vitro

An effect of Na2EDTA and tetracycline (oxytetracycline and doxycycline) resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was tested. The strains were isolated from clinical specimens. The tests were performed in vitro by serial dilutions of the drugs in liquid medium. MIC for Na2EDTA, tetracyclines and a combination of Na2EDTA and tetracyclines was determined. It was shown that the combination of oxytetracycline or doxycycline with Na2EDTA caused changes in sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to these antibiotics. After an application of the mixture of various concentrations of tetracycline and Na2EDTA it was observed that, with the reduction of the effective Na2EDTA dose by about half, the lowest concentrations of tetracyclines inhibiting the growth of resistant bacteria were 2-64 times lower than MIC values of antibiotics without Na2EDTA.     

Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity of three palladium(II) complexes of tetracyclines

Pd(II) complexes with three antibiotics of the tetracycline family (tetracycline, doxycycline and chlortetracycline) were synthesized and characterized by elemental, thermogravimetric, and conductivity analyses, and infrared spectroscopy. The interactions between Pd(II) ions and tetracycline were investigated in aqueous solution by (1)H NMR. All the tetracyclines studied form 1:1 complexes with Pd(II) via the oxygen of the hydroxyl group at ring A and that of the amide group. The effect of the three complexes on the growth of bacterial strains sensitive and resistant to tetracycline was studied. The Pd(II) complex of tetracycline is practically as efficient as tetracycline in inhibiting the growth of two Escherichia coli (E. coli) sensitive bacterial strains and 16 times more potent against E. coli HB101/pBR322, a bacterial strain resistant to tetracycline. Pd(II) coordination to doxycycline also increased its activity in the resistant strain by a factor of 2.     

Superoxide dismutase-rich bacteria. Paradoxical increase in oxidant toxicity

Superoxide dismutase is considered important in protection of aerobes against oxidant damage, and increased tolerance to oxidant stress is associated with induction of this enzyme. However, the importance of superoxide dismutase in this tolerance is not clear because conditions which promote the synthesis of superoxide dismutase likewise affect other antioxidant enzymes and substances. To clarify the role of superoxide dismutase per se in organismal defense against oxidant-generating drugs, we employed Escherichia coli transformed with multiple copies of the gene for bacterial iron superoxide dismutase. These bacteria have greater than ten times the superoxide dismutase activity of wild-type E. coli but, importantly, are normal in other oxidant defense parameters including catalase, peroxidases, glutathione, and glutathione reductase. High superoxide dismutase and control bacteria were exposed to the O2- -generating drug paraquat and to elevated pO2. We find; high superoxide dismutase E. coli are more readily killed by paraquat under aerobic, but not anaerobic, conditions. During exposure to paraquat, high superoxide dismutase E. coli accumulate more H2O2. Coincidentally, the reduced glutathione content of high superoxide dismutase E. coli declines more than in control E. coli. E. coli with high superoxide dismutase activity are also more readily killed by hyperoxia. Interestingly, the susceptibility of the parental and high superoxide dismutase E. coli to killing by exogenous H2O2 is not significantly different. Thus, under these experimental conditions, greatly enhanced superoxide dismutase activity accelerates H2O2 formation. The increased H2O2 probably accounts for the exaggerated sensitivity of high superoxide dismutase bacteria to oxidant-generating drugs. These results support the concept that the product of superoxide dismutase, H2O2, is at least as hazardous as the substrate, O2-. We conclude that effective organismal defense against reactive oxygen species may require balanced increments in antioxidant enzymes and cannot necessarily be improved by increases in the activity of single enzymes.     

Visible light damage to Escherichia coli in seawater: oxidative stress hypothesis

The effect of visible light on Escherichia coli H10407 in seawater microcosms was investigated. Light damage was estimated by loss of colony-forming ability. Illumination of E. coli suspended in oligotrophic seawater with visible light at an intensity of about 40 klux caused a drastic decrease of culturable bacteria which turned to a viable but non-culturable state. In seawater E. coli exhibited weak metabolic activity as estimated by ³H methyl-thymidine incorporation in the cell. Visible light did not significantly alter this metabolic activity and did not involve detectable oxidation of lipid membranes as evaluated by gas chromatography analysis of fatty acids. The involvement of oxygen and reactive oxygen species in phototoxicity was studied. A decrease of the toxic effect was observed when E. coli was exposed to visible light under anaerobic conditions. Scavengers of reactive oxygen species exhibited variable protective effects. β-Carotene, a singlet oxygen scavenger, and superoxide dismutase were equally ineffective. On the other hand, catalase, which eliminates hydrogen peroxide and thiourea, a hydroxyl radical scavenger, showed a net protection. In addition desferrioxamine B, an iron chelator, was also effective in reducing phototoxicity, probably by preventing hydroxyl radical generation by decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of iron (Fenton reaction). Therefore, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical seem to be reactive intermediates of oxygen-dependent (type II) photosensitized reactions.     

DNA breakage induced by 1,2,4-benzenetriol: relative contributions of oxygen-derived active species and transition metal ions

We report here the relative roles of metals and selected reactive oxygen species in DNA damage by the genotoxic benzene metabolite 1,2,4-benzenetriol, and the interactions of antioxidants in affording protection. 1,2,4-Benzenetriol induces scission in supercoiled phage DNA in neutral aqueous solution with an effective dose (ED(50)) of 6.7 microM for 50% cleavage of 2.05 microg/ml supercoiled PM2 DNA. In decreasing order of effectiveness: catalase (20 U/ml), formate (25 mM), superoxide dismutase (20 U/ml), and mannitol (50 mM) protected, from 85 to 28%. Evidently, H(2)O(2) is the dominant active species, with O(2)(*)(-) and *OH playing subordinate roles. Desferrioxamine or EDTA inhibited DNA breakage by 81-85%, despite accelerating 1,2,4-benzenetriol autoxidation. Consistent with this suggestion of a crucial role for metals, addition of cupric, cuprous, ferric, or ferrous ions enhanced DNA breakage, with copper being more active than iron. Combinations of scavengers protected more effectively than any single scavenger alone, with implications for antioxidants acting in concert in living cells. Synergistic combinations were superoxide dismutase with *OH scavengers, superoxide dismutase with desferrioxamine, and catalase with desferrioxamine. Antagonistic (preemptive) combinations were catalase with superoxide dismutase, desferrioxamine with *OH scavengers, and catalase with *OH scavengers. The most striking aspect of synergism was the extent to which metal chelation (desferrioxamine) acted synergistically with either catalase or superoxide dismutase to provide virtually complete protection. Concluding, 1,2,4-benzenetriol-induced DNA damage occurs mainly by site-specific, Fenton-type mechanisms, involving synergism between several reactive intermediates. Multiple antioxidant actions are needed for effective protection.     

Chemiluminescence by Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes cells suspended in brain heart infusion broth or in carbonated saline solution emitted light (chemiluminescence) that could be detected by a liquid scintillation spectrometer. This chemiluminescence was inhibited by superoxide dismutase and catalase but not by the hydroxyl radical scavengers mannitol and benzoate; it was also dependent upon and proportional to the carbonate ion concentration in the medium. Organisms suspended in carbonated saline solution which had ceased to chemiluminesce immediately began to chemiluminesce again when acetaldehyde was added but not when glucose, sucrose, or xanthine was added. Acetaldehyde-induced chemiluminescence was inhibited by suproxide dismutase and catalase but not by allopurinol. Our data indicate that the superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and the carbonate ion are involved in chemiluminescence by L. monocytogenes. Chemiluminescence is apparently initiated by the extracellular generation of superoxide anon by this organism. The mechanism for the production of the superoxide anion is not known, but xanthine oxidase does not appear to be involved.     

Superoxide Dismutase and Oxygen Toxicity in a Eukaryote

Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. ellipsoideus contained 6.5 times more superoxide dismutase and 2.3 times more catalase when grown under 100% O(2) than when grown anaerobically. Growth under oxygen caused equal increases in both the cyanide-sensitive and the cyanide-insensitive superoxide dismutases of this organism. Experience with other eukaryotes has shown that cyanide sensitivity is a property of the cupro-zinc superoxide dismutase of the cytosol, whereas cyanide insensitivity is a property of the corresponding mangani-enzyme found in mitochondria. Cu(2+), which has been shown to increase the radioresistance of yeast, also caused an increase of both of the superoxide dismutases of S. cerevisiae. Yeast which had been grown under 1 atm of O(2) were more resistant toward the lethal effects of 20 atm of O(2) than were yeast which had been grown in the absence of O(2). Escherichia coli K-12 his(-) responded to growth under 1 atm of O(2) by increasing its content of catalase and of peroxidase, but not of superoxide dismutase. This contrasts with E. coli B, which was previously shown to respond to O(2) by a striking increase in superoxide dismutase. E. coli K-12 his(-) did not gain resistance toward 20 atm of O(2) because of having been grown under 1 atm of O(2). Once again, this contrasts with the behavior of E. coli B. These data indicate that, in both prokaryotes and in eukaryotes, superoxide dismutase is an important component of the defenses against oxygen toxicity.     

Site-specific DNA damage induced by hydrazine in the presence of manganese and copper ions. The role of hydroxyl radical and hydrogen atom.

The mechanism of DNA damage by hydrazine in the presence of metal ions was investigated by DNA sequencing technique and ESR-spin trapping method. Hydrazine caused DNA damage in the presence of Mn(III), Mn(II), Cu(II), Co(II), and Fe(III). The order of inducing effect on hydrazine-dependent DNA damage (Mn(III) greater than Mn(II) approximately Cu(II) much greater than Co(II) approximately Fe(III)) was related to that of the accelerating effect on the O2 consumption rate of hydrazine autoxidation. DNA damage by hydrazine plus Mn(II) or Mn(III) was inhibited by hydroxyl radical scavengers and superoxide dismutase, but not by catalase. On the other hand, bathocuproine and catalase completely inhibited DNA damage by hydrazine plus Cu(II), whereas hydroxyl radical scavengers and superoxide dismutase did not. Hydrazine plus Mn(II) or Mn(III) caused cleavage at every nucleotide with a little weaker cleavage at adenine residues, whereas hydrazine plus Cu(II) induced piperidine-labile sites frequently at thymine residues, especially of the GTC sequence. ESR-spin trapping experiments showed that hydroxyl radical is generated during the Mn(III)-catalyzed autoxidation of hydrazine, whereas hydrogen atom adducts of spin trapping reagents are generated during Cu(II)-catalyzed autoxidation. The results suggest that hydrazine plus Mn(II) or Mn(III) generate hydroxyl free radical not via H2O2 and that this hydroxyl free radical causes DNA damage. A possibility that the hydrogen atom releasing compound participates in hydrazine plus Cu(II)-induced DNA damage is discussed.     

Oxygen radical-mediated lipid peroxidation and inhibition of Ca2+-ATPase activity of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum

Oxygen radicals have been implicated as important mediators of myocardial ischemic and reperfusion injury. A major product of oxygen radical formation is the highly reactive hydroxyl radical via a biological Fenton reaction. The sarcoplasmic reticulum is one of the major target organelles injured by this process. Using a oxygen radical generating system consisting of dihydroxyfumarate and Fe3+-ADP, we studied lipid peroxidation and Ca2+-ATPase of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. Incubation of sarcoplasmic reticulum with dihydroxyfumarate plus Fe3+-ADP significantly inhibited enzyme activity. Addition of superoxide dismutase, superoxide dismutase plus catalase (15 micrograms/ml) or iron chelator, deferoxamine (1.25-1000 microM) protected Ca2+-ATPase activity. Time course studies showed that this system inhibited enzyme activity in 7.5 to 10 min. Similar exposure of sarcoplasmic reticulum to dihydroxyfumarate plus Fe3+-ADP stimulated malondialdehyde formation. This effect was inhibited by superoxide dismutase, catalase, singlet oxygen, and hydroxyl radical scavengers. EPR spin-trapping with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide verified production of the hydroxyl radical. The combination of dihydroxyfumarate and Fe3+-ADP resulted in a spectrum of hydroxyl radical spin trap adduct, which was abolished by ethanol, catalase, mannitol, and superoxide dismutase. The results demonstrate the role of oxygen radicals in causing inactivation of Ca2+-ATPase and inhibition of lipid peroxidation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum which could possibly be one of the important mechanisms of oxygen radical-mediated myocardial injury.     

Formation of endonuclease III-sensitive sites as a consequence of oxygen radical attack on DNA

Exposure of the plasmid pBR 322 to the aerobic xanthine oxidase reaction introduced single strand scissions and endonuclease III-sensitive sites. The latter may be residues of thymine glycol. Both forms of DNA damage were completely prevented by superoxide dismutase or catalase, whereas bovine serum albumin was much less effective. Mannitol and benzoate, added as scavengers of HO., and desferrioxamine or diethylene triamine pentaacetate, added to sequester Fe(III), also protected. These results indicate a metal-catalyzed interaction of O2- with H2O2, which produces HO. which, in turn, causes DNA strand scission and oxidation of thymine residues to thymine glycol. Plasmid isolated from aerobically-incubated cells contained more strand scissions and endonuclease III-sensitive sites than did plasmid from anaerobically-incubated cells, and a low molecular weight scavenger of O2- prevented the damage seen with the aerobic cells. Genetic defects in AP endonucleases rendered E. coli more susceptible to the dioxygen-dependent lethality of plumbagin, which mediates O2- production. Similarly, plasmid DNA, within the endonuclease-deficient cells, exhibited more strand scissions and endonuclease III-sensitive sites upon aerobic exposure to plumbagin than did endonuclease-sufficient cells, and a low molecular weight scavenger of O2- was protective. These results are consistent with the conclusions that strand scissions and formation of endonuclease III-sensitive sites are among the consequences of exposure of DNA to O2- plus H2O2, both in vitro and in vivo.     

Oxygen radicals are generated by dye-mediated intracellular photooxidations: a role for superoxide in photodynamic effects

Representative thiazines, xanthenes, acridines, and phenazines photosensitized the oxidation of reduced pyridine nucleotides and reduced glutathione when illuminated with low intensity visible light. Photooxidation resulted in oxygen consumption and in superoxide generation, assayed as the superoxide dismutase (SOD)-inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome c. The major pathway of electron transfer involved dye reduction rather than singlet oxygen-mediated oxidation of the substrate, as demonstrated by the relative insensitivity of the oxidation to inhibition by sodium azide and by the observable bleaching of the dye. Hydrogen peroxide was a stable end product of photooxidation. Photosensitive dyes were photoreduced intracellularly. These dyes were transported across the membranes of Escherichia coli B and stimulated a light- and concentration-dependent increase in the cyanide-insensitive respiration. Dyes reduced intracellularly subsequently diffused out of the cell where they reduced extracellular cytochrome c. The photosensitive dyes examined in this study exhibited a light-dependent bacteriostatic effect on E. coli B grown in nutrient broth, manifested as an increased lag prior to growth. Restoration of growth coincided with increased levels of SOD, and the intracellular level of SOD correlated with the level of illumination, the dye concentration, and the reactivity of the dye to NADH in vitro. The thiazine dye, toluidine blue o, imposed a light- and oxygen-dependent lethality on E. coli B grown in glucose minimal medium. Toxicity was relieved by hydroxyl radical scavengers, and their ability to protect the cells was proportional to their reactivity with the hydroxyl radical. The results indicate that oxygen radicals and related species mediate photodynamic effects in E. coli B.     

Enzymatic defenses against the toxicity of oxygen and of streptonigrin in Escherichia coli.

Anaerobically grown Escherichia coli K-12 contain only one superoxide dismutase and that is the iron-containing isozyme found in the periplasmic space. Exposure to oxygen caused the induction of a manganese-containing superoxide dismutase and of another, previously undescribed, superoxide dismutase, as well as of catalase and peroxidase. These inductions differed in their responsiveness towards oxygen. Thus the very low levels of oxygen present in deep, static, aerobic cultures were enough for nearly maximal induction of the manganese-superoxide dismutase. In contrast, induction of the new superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase required the much higher levels of oxygen achieved in vigorously agitated aerobic cultures. Anaerobically grown cells showed a much greater oxygen enhancement of the lethality of streptonigrin than did aerobically grown cells, in accord with the proposal that streptonigrin can serve as an intracellular source of superoxide. Anaerobically grown cells in which enzyme inductions were prevented by puromycin were damaged by exposure to air. This damage was evidenced both as a decline in viable cell count and as structural abnormalities evident under an electron microscope.     

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.