Modification of reperfusion-induced ionic imbalance by free radical scavengers in spontaneously hypertensive rat retina.

We studied the effects of free radical scavengers, superoxide dismutase (SOD), vitamin E, and EGB 761, on ion shifts (Na+, K+, and Ca2+) induced by ischemia reperfusion in rat retina obtained from spontaneously hypertensive rats. Eyes were subjected to 90 min of retinal ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Two basic protocols were used: (1) chronic application, in which rats received SOD (7500, 15,000, and 30,000 U/kg, i.v.), vitamin E (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, i.v.), and EGB 671 (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, orally) for 10 d, respectively; and (2) acute administration, in which 7500, 15,000, and 30,000 U/kg of SOD, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of vitamin E, and 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of EGB 761 were administered after an ischemic episode, at the onset of reperfusion, respectively. In the drug-free control group, 90 min ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion resulted in an accumulation of retinal sodium and calcium from their nonischemic control values of 76 +/- 4 and 3.2 +/- 0.1 mumol/g dry weight to 112 +/- 6 (p < .001) and 6.2 (p < .001) mumol/g dry weight, respectively. Tissue potassium loss was also observed in this model of retinal ischemia reperfusion, and after 90 min ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion potassium content was significantly reduced from its nonischemic control value of 266 +/- 5 to 207 +/- 6 (p < .001) mumol/g dry weight. The chronic administration of SOD, vitamin E, and EGB 761 dose dependently reduced the reperfusion-induced ionic imbalance and improved the recovery of retinal ion contents.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)