OBJECTIVE: The aim was to define the following: (1) if reperfusion of ischaemic limbs could cause myocardial damage; (2) if reactive oxygen metabolites are involved in such possible damage. METHODS: Ten rats underwent ischaemia-reperfusion of the lower limbs (group A) and 10 underwent the same procedure following treatment with ascorbic acid (group B). Ten rats were used as a control group (group C). RESULTS: The incidence of severe myocardial mitochondrial damage and serum malondialdehyde concentrations 30 min after reperfusion were both higher in group A than in groups B and C [8/10, 2/10, and 0/10, p < 0.05 and 7.25 (SEM 0.33), 5.30(0.26), and 4.89(0.23) mumol.litre-1, p < 0.05, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: Ischaemia-reperfusion of the lower limbs may cause mitochondrial damage in the myocardium and reactive oxygen metabolites could mediate this damage.
OBJECTIVE: The aim was to define the following: (1) if reperfusion of ischaemic limbs could cause myocardial damage; (2) if reactive oxygen metabolites are involved in such possible damage. METHODS: Ten rats underwent ischaemia-reperfusion of the lower limbs (group A) and 10 underwent the same procedure following treatment with ascorbic acid (group B). Ten rats were used as a control group (group C). RESULTS: The incidence of severe myocardial mitochondrial damage and serum malondialdehyde concentrations 30 min after reperfusion were both higher in group A than in groups B and C [8/10, 2/10, and 0/10, p < 0.05 and 7.25 (SEM 0.33), 5.30(0.26), and 4.89(0.23) mumol.litre-1, p < 0.05, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS:Ischaemia-reperfusion of the lower limbs may cause mitochondrial damage in the myocardium and reactive oxygen metabolites could mediate this damage.