EFFECT OF KETOROLAC TROMETHAMINE (TORADOL) ON ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION INJURY IN SKELETAL-MUSCLE

The eicosanoids, leukotriene B-4 (LTB4) and thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)), contribute to neutrophil adhesion and arteriole vasoconstriction, imp ortant microcirculatory events in ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury. T he purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ketorolac on I- R injury of skeletal muscle. A videomicroscopic preparation of gracili s muscle in male Wistar rats (n=7) in two experimental groups was eval uated: Group 1-4 hr global ischemia only (19 arterioles, 19 venules), and Group 2-4 hr ischemia plus ketorolac (13 arterioles, 14 venules). Ketorolac (0.86 mg/kg, i.m.) was given 30 min prior to reperfusion. Th e number of neutrophils, rolling and adherent, was counted in 100-micr on venular segments, and arteriole diameters were measured at 5, 15, 3 0, 60 and 120 min of reperfusion. The I-R-induced increase in neutroph il adhesion was significantly reduced by ketorolac, which significantl y increased arteriolar vasodilation in the first 30 min of reperfusion and significantly reduced the I-R-induced vasoconstriction in arterio les at 30 min; this effect was lost at 1 hr of reperfusion. Although k etorolac augments immediate arteriole vasodilation and blocks subseque nt vasoconstriction, this effect appears to be transient. These findin gs suggest that ketorolac may have potential as a treatment for I-R in jury.