ENDOTHELIAL PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF STOBADINE ON ISCHEMIA REPERFUSION-INDUCED INJURY

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the anti oxidant stobadine on changes in the reactivity of the rat abdominal ao rta induced by ischaemia and reperfusion (I/R). In anaesthetized male rats, in vivo ischaemia was elicited by occlusion of the abdominal aor ta for 18 hours; reperfusion lasted 30 minutes. The aortal rings were taken from the reperfused portion. Decreased relaxant response to acet ylcholine, as a consequence of endothelial injury, was seen after I/R. We also demonstrated I/R-induced reversible ultrastructural changes b oth in endothelial and smooth muscle cells, predominantly in the mitoc hondria. Lipid peroxidation was increased in homogenates of I/R aortae ; the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) increased from a control value of 0.97 +/- 0.03 to 2.57 +/- 0.06 nmol /l/mg protein. Stobadine (2 mg/kg i.v., 5 minutes before starting repe rfusion) protected the abdominal aorta against I/R-induced decrease of acetylcholine relaxation, and prevented changes in mitochondria and a n increase of TEARS concentration. The protective effect of stobadine seems to be due to its antioxidant properties.