Role of free radicals in pulmonary thromboembolism in mice

Involvement of free radicals and their scavenging enzymes in mice pulmonary thromboembolism, induced by intravenous infusion of collagen and adrenaline, has been studied. Malonaldehyde (MDA) and activities of xanthine oxidase (XO), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were estimated in platelets, heart and lung homogenates. MDA increased in all the tissues sharply, while animals showed 70-80% thrombocytopenia. Xanthine oxidase activity in these animals increase significantly in heart. However, increased SOD activity and decreased catalase activity was observed in platelets. Intravenous administration of superoxide dismutase (5 mg/kg), catalase (5 mg/kg) and mannitol (200 mg/kg) protected the mice against pulmonary thromboembolism. The importance of free radicals in mice pulmonary thromboembolism has been demonstrated.