The role of oxygen free radicals in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.
A series of experiments have been done to investigate the role of oxygen free radicals in ischemia/reperfusion injury. The following results were found: Myocardial MDA content increased significantly after post-ischemic reperfusion in vivo and in vitro. A blockade of the xanthine oxidase pathway for free radical generation could provide effective protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury. Exogenous reactive oxygen intermediates H2O2, .OH and O2- could induce changes in the contractility and electrophysiological properties of myocardial cells similar to those seen in ischemia/reperfusion. An outburst of free radical generation was detected by ESR spectroscopy at low temperature (-173 degrees C) and with the spin trapping technique during the very early phase of reperfusion. The authors emphasize the important role of free radicals in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.