Ischemia: profile of an enemy. Reperfusion injury of skeletal muscle

Abstract

Recent experimental studies of temporary skeletal muscle ischemia in dogs showed that progressive deterioration in cell membrane electrical potentials (Em) occurred after partial but not total ischemia. With intracellular adenosine triphosphate concentration within the normal range, cell membrane damage by oxygen-derived free radicals was considered. In rats subjected to 60 minutes of infrarenal aortic occlusion, intra-arterial superoxide dismutase infused during removal of the aortic clamp prevented the continued decrease in Em. These data suggest that oxygen-derived free radicals may be mediators of reperfusion injury of cell membranes.