Related Experiment Videos
Accentuated oxidative stress following reperfusion injury in diabetic rats
W K Edrees1, I S Young, L L Lau
1Department of Surgery, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland. wkedrees@hotmail.com
Background:
This study investigates whether diabetes mellitus accentuates hind limb ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Methods:
Male Wistar rats rendered diabetic (n=40) following injection of streptozotocin were compared to non-diabetic control rats (n=30). Each group was divided into sham, 4 hrs of hind limb ischemia, 4 hrs of ischemia followed by 10, 30 or 60 min of reperfusion. Plasma concentrations of an end-product of lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA)] and antioxidants (vitamins A and E) were measured together with the resting membrane potential (RMP) of the gastrocnemius muscle.
Results:
Following reperfusion, the diabetic group showed greater and more persistent elevation of MDA and greater reduction of antioxidants. This was associated with reduction in the RMP only in the diabetic group. There was significant correlation between MDA level and the RMP in both groups of animals.
Conclusions:
These results indicate that oxidative stress following reperfusion injury is greater in the presence of diabetes mellitus. This may lead to a decrease in the RMP and increase in the vascular permeability, which may be associated with more complications.