Direct evidence for the occurrence of superoxide radicals in the small intestine of the burned rat.

To determine if superoxide radicals (O2-) and related metabolites are generated in extradermal tissues of burned animals, 2-methyl-6-[p-methoxyphenyl]-3,7-dihydroimidazol [1,2-å]pyrazin-3-one (MCLA) was infused intravenously into rats, and change in the chemiluminescence (CL) intensity of the small intestine was determined by using a sensitive photodetector. When animals were challenged with burn stress of 40% total body surface area (TBSA), the CL intensity of the intestine gradually increased, reaching a maximum within 1 hour and remaining elevated for up to 3 hours. Pretreatment of animals with a long-acting superoxide dismutase (SOD) derivative (SM-SOD) significantly inhibited the increase in CL intensity. Administration of SM-SOD immediately after inducing burn injury also significantly inhibited the increase in CL. These results suggest that superoxide radicals are generated in extradermal tissues, such as the small intestine, in the early stage after burn injury.