ABSTRACT
In order to clarify the effect of superoxide anion radicals on the “no-reflow phenomenon”,
the authors examined the utility of simple cold preservation of rat limbs in replantation.
They quantified such radicals, derived from erythrocytes and plasma in the preserved
limb, using a chemiluminescence method employing a derivative of luciferin (CLA).
Eighty-four Lewis rat limbs were preserved at 4°C in Euro-Collins solution for 10
to 120 hr, and grafted orthotopically to isogeneic rats by microsurgical technique.
To determine the extent of oxidative stress, heparinized blood from the recipient
animals was collected before, or at 5, 30, and 60 min after reperfusion, and chemiluminescence
was measured in a total of 51 replantations.
Cold ischemic groups at 0, 24, and 48 hr, with high rates of vascular patency, did
not show a marked increase in superoxide anion concentration. However, there were
significant differences in the production of superoxide between patent and non-patent
cases in all groups, excluding a 120-hr ischemic group.
This study showed that the increase in superoxide anion concentration after reperfusion
following ischemia, correlates closely with the no-reflow phenomenon.
