EFFECT OF ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL, TAURINE AND SELENIUM ON THE ATTENUATION OF ISCHEMIA REPERFUSION INJURY OF SPLANCHNIC ORGANS/

Background: Splanchnic artery occlusion shock is caused by increased c apillary permeability and cellular injury precipitated by oxygen deriv ed free radicals following ischemia and reperfusion of splanchnic orga ns, The purpose of this study was to assess the role of several well-k nown oxygen-derived free radical scavengers in ameliorating or prevent ing this syndrome, Study design: Anesthetized rats were subjected to p eriods of occlusion of the visceral arteries and reperfusion, Tocopher ol. taurine, selenium or a 'cocktail' of these three agents was inject ed subcutaneously for 4 consecutive days prior to operation. Mean arte rial blood pressure was measured throughout the experimental period. F luorometry and technetium-99m pyrophosphate counting of the visceral o rgans were performed as well as a histologic grading system for intest inal viability, Results: Final mean arterial blood pressure associated with the 'cocktail' and selenium groups was 79.1 +/- 27.4 mmHg and 83 .6 +/- 17.8 mmHg, respectively. These values were significantly higher than the control group, 40.8 +/- 11.4 mmHg (P < 0.05). Similar patter ns of the benefit of selenium in contrast with the other groups were o btained with fluorescein perfusion, radioisotopic activity and histolo gic analysis. Conclusion: Pretreatment with selenium of splanchnic isc hemia and reperfusion in the rat improves mean arterial blood pressure and microcirculatory visceral perfusion. Further analysis of the prec ise protective mechanism of selenium for reperfusion injury will enabl e visceral organs to withstand the consequences of increased capillary leakage and oxidant injury. (C) 1998 The International Society for Ca rdiovascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.