Ischemia, reperfusion and oxygen free radicals

Alterations which occur during ischemia are reviewed. They modify the metabolic status in such a way they prepare the cell to an anomalous response to reoxygenation. The consequence of this disturbance is the generation of oxygen free radicals through several mechanisms, including the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, the arachidonic acid cascade, the activation of xanthine oxidase, activation of phagocytes, iron mobilization, etc. Reduced glutathione is exhausted, proteins are inactivated. Lipid peroxidation induces membrane breakdown and cellular death.