Oxygen radicals in liver ischemia and reperfusion--experimental data.

The generation of free oxygen radicals is presumed as a substantial pathogenetic principle in reperfusion injury. Although demonstrated in gut, muscle and kidneys its role in liver reperfusion injury is still under investigation. In an experimental rat model of warm liver ischemia of 60 min and 8 h reperfusion electron resonance spectroscopy assessed the increased generation of free radicals in early reperfusion period, leading to a decrease of polyunsaturated free fatty acids in liver tissue within 15 min of reperfusion. Histologically, single cell death, local and patchy necrosis of hepatic lobuli could be observed after 8 h reperfusion (n = 6). These histologic signs of liver injury could be attenuated by administration of superoxide-dismutase in combination with catalase but not by allopurinol. Best results could be obtained by deferoxamine. This indicates that increased generation of free oxygen radicals in reperfusion is not caused by the known conversion of xanthine-dehydrogenase to -oxidase but is mediated by an increased generation of hydroxyl-radicals, which can be scavenged by deferoxamine.