TISSUE SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE (SOD) ACTIVITY AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STAINING IN ACUTE APPENDICITIS - CORRELATION WITH DEGREE OF INFLAMMATION

The mechanism of progression of appendicitis has not been clarified. W e examined tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TEARS), and the localization of Cu, Zn-SOD in 56 inflamed appendices in relation to histopathological classificatio n. There was a significant difference in SOD activity between catarrha l appendix and phlegmonous and gangrenous appendix (2.3 +/- 0.1 vs 5.0 +/- 0.2 and 4.6 +/- 0.6 units/mg protein, respectively P < 0.05). TEA RS value was highest in gangrenous appendix, being significantly diffe rent from the levels in the other two types (0.47 +/- 0.04 vs 0.19 +/- 0.01n mol/mg protein, in catarrhal and 0.20 +/- 0.02, in phlegmonous appendix P < 0.05). Positive staining for Cu, Zn-SOD was demonstrated in 64% of catarrhal appendices, 96% of phlegmonous appendices, and 75% of gangrenous appendices, and intense positive staining was recognize d in 9%, 28%, and 40% of these appendices, respectively. These results indicated that active oxygen influences the degree of inflammation in phlegmonous and gangrenous appendicitis. Gangrenous appendicitis and the other two types of appendicitis seemed to be different entities.