ADMINISTRATION OF TOURNIQUET .1. ARE EDEMA AND OXIDATIVE STRESS-RELATED TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE DURATION OF ISCHEMIA IN REPERFUSED SKELETAL-MUSCLE

One hindlimb of mice was subjected to 60, 90 and 120 min ischemia by a pplication of a tourniquet followed by a 60-min reperfusion period. An additional experimental group received a tourniquet for 90 min withou t subsequent reperfusion. The soleus muscle (from the contralateral si de also as control) was removed and evaluated for muscle weight, prote in weight, protein content, and glutathione concentrations. Ischemia a lone without subsequent reperfusion did not produce significant change s. With postischemic reperfusion, the protein content and muscle weigh t increased, probably because of an increased capillary permeability, leading to muscle edema. Oxidative stress was also present during repe rfusion, correlating well with the changes in protein content. The int ensity of these alterations appeared to depend on the period of ischem ia.