FREE-RADICAL RELATED MYOCARDIAL MITOCHONDRIAL DAMAGE FOLLOWING LIMB ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION

Objective: The aim was to define the following: (1) if reperfusion of ischaemic limbs could cause myocardial damage; (2) if reactive oxygen metabolites are involved in such possible damage. Methods: Ten rats un derwent ischaemia-reperfusion of the lower limbs (group A) and 10 unde rwent the same procedure following treatment with ascorbic acid (group B). Ten rats were used as a control group (group C. Results: The inci dence of severe myocardial mitochondrial damage and serum malondialdeh yde concentrations 30 min after reperfusion were both higher in group A than in groups B and C [8/10, 2/10, and 0/10, p < 0.05 and 7.25(SEM 0.33), 5.30(0.26), and 4.89(0.23) mu mol.litre(-1), p < 0.05, respecti vely]. Conclusions: Ischaemia-reperfusion of the lower limbs may cause mitochondrial damage in the myocardium and reactive oxygen metabolite s could mediate this damage.