[Free radical centers in the dog myocardial tissue in regional ischemia]

The effect of regional ischemia on canine myocardial in situ free radical species was studied by the EPR method. Rapid fixation of heart muscle samples by freezeclamping was performed at the following physiological states: native myocardial blood circulation, regional ischemia with the presence of collateral circulation, total ischemia, and postischemic reperfusion. EPR spectra of the samples at -40 degrees C exhibited two free radical signals from the semireduced forms of ubiquinone and flavine coenzymes. Upon transition from normal blood supply to regional ischemia, an increase in the contribution of the flavine signal was registered, but reperfusion resulted in the recovery of the characteristics of EPR signals. It was found that the increase in the intensity of collateral circulation in the ischemic area led to an increase in the portion of ubisemiquinone in the integral EPR signal, whereas in total ischemia this signal was not registered. It was shown that the changes in spectral characteristics of integral free radical signals are accompanied by changes in their relaxation parameters.