[Serum and tissue lysosomal enzymes and liver dysfunction after an experimental acute lower limbs ischemia in the...

Adult male Wistar rats were divided in 3 groups. In the first group, infrarenal abdominal aorta was occluded for 6 hours and reperfused thereafter. In the second group, the reperfusion was not made, and the third group underwent a sham operation. Lysosomal enzymatic activities were assessed in serum tissues. Lysosomal membrane fragilities were estimated also in these tissues. Finally, 14C-aminopyrine breath test (ABT) was studied to define the possible liver dysfunction caused by limb ischemia. As a result, release of lysosomal enzymes from ischemic muscle was confirmed in vitro experiments, and the increase in the serum was statistically significant in the first and second groups as compared to the third group. Particularly prominent was a marked elevation of cathepsin-D in the first group which was observed immediately after the release of occlusion. Results of liver lysosomal enzymes and ABT revealed significant cellular damages and depression of microsomal function of the liver both in the first and second groups. These studies suggest that lysosomal enzymes derived from ischemic muscle exert a possible toxicity on the liver, and liver damage thus resulted may play a roll on the pathogenesis of whole body injury associated with acute and critical lower limb ischemia.