[Mechanisms of reperfusion injury of rat kidney]

Recently, oxygen free radicals have appeared to play a major role in injury after ischemia, especially that followed by normoxic reperfusion. To clarify the mechanisms of reperfusion injury, the activities of both oxygen radical producing enzymes and radical scavenging enzymes were measured in the ischemic rat kidney followed by reperfusion. All defensive enzymes activities significantly decreased; superoxide dismutase 2.15 +/- 0.14----1.71 +/- 0.11, catalase 186.6 +/- 12.7----116.5 +/- 7.1, glutathione peroxidase 30.0 +/- 2.6----19.1 +/- 2.9, glutathione reductase 118 +/- 5.1----39.9 +/- 6.8 (U/mg protein). Conversion from xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase was only 12% of total activity, and all of them were reversible type oxidase. However, it was suggested by the electron spin resonance method that the tissue xanthine oxidase freed of superoxide dismutase could produce oxygen free radicals. In conclusion, reperfusion injury is caused not only by the increase of oxygen free radicals but by the destruction of scavenging systems.