The effect of human SOD on the survival rate in rats with temporary splanchnic ischemia.

The accumulation of oxygen free radicals is reported to occur in the organs subjected to temporary ischemia followed by reperfusion, resulting in the fatal outcome of the animals. The effects of human SOD, a representative scavenger of oxygen free radicals, on the survival rates were investigated in the rats with temporary splanchnic ischemia. The temporary ischemia was induced by the occlusion of anterior mesenteric and celiac arteries for 30 min under anesthesia. Prior and after treatment with 2 mg/100 g of human SOD, iv or sc, produced significant improvements in survival rates. Human SOD, cloned from human placenta DNA and expressed in microorganisms, has extreme homogeneity. The results suggest the possible introduction of human SOD into clinical field as an effective scavenger of oxygen free radicals.