ADMINISTRATION OF TOURNIQUET .2. PREVENTION OF POSTISCHEMIC OXIDATIVESTRESS CAN REDUCE MUSCLE EDEMA

An experimental group of mice were subjected to a hindlimb tourniquet for 90 min followed by 60 min postischemic reperfusion (ischemia/reper fusion, I/R). Two further groups with the same experimental procedure received allopurinol to inhibit endothelial xanthine oxidase to produc e oxygen free radicals (I/R-allo) or vitamin E as a radical scavenger (I/R-vitE). The soleus muscle was examined, and the contralateral musc le served as control. Glutathione (both reduced and oxidized forms, GS H and GSSG) concentrations and the relative protein content were measu red. Additionally, the muscles were examined under the electron micros cope for pathological alterations. The results showed: (i) the existen ce of much oxidative stress in the I/R group, but not in the I/R-allo and I/R-vitE groups; (ii) an increased protein content indicative for high capillary permeability in the I/R group, but not in the I/R-allo and I/R-vitE groups; (iii) considerably fewer capillary endothelial di sturbances in the I/R-allo and I/R-vitE groups than in the I/R group. We conclude that allopurinol and vitamin E diminished the occurrence o f oxidative stress and of edema in postischemic skeletal muscle.