Effects of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase on strain injury-induced oxidative damage to skeletal muscle in rats.

This study was designed to determine whether the supplement of superoxide dismutase (SOD) could attenuate strain-induced oxidative damage to skeletal muscle in rats. Experimental animals were injured in right gastrocnemius muscles by a strain injury model. SOD-treated groups were given Cu/Zn SOD 10 000 U/kg body weight per day since injured, while control groups were given normal saline. Parameters of antioxidant and muscle damage were detected in plasma 3 and 7 days postinjury. The injured muscles were removed and fixed for histology observation and immunohisto-chemistry assay of desmin. The results showed that plasma levels of SOD, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in SOD group were significantly higher than in the saline group on day 3 or 7, while the plasma creatine kinase (CK) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were lower in the SOD group than in the saline group. The histological examination of muscle sections revealed a lower degree of damage in the SOD group in which the expression level of desmin was higher than in the saline group. It is suggested that SOD supplement may attenuate strain-induced muscle damage and facilitate its regeneration.