Role of lipid peroxidation in tissue injury after hepatic ischemia

Ischemia and anoxia are associated with decreased concentrations of cellular antioxidants. The hypothesis that recirculation of oxygenated blood to previously ischemic tissue may result in enhanced free-radical reactions leading to lipid peroxidation and tissue damage was investigated. Elevated hepatic conjugated diene concentrations were detected 60 min after treatment of rats with carbon tetrachloride, a positive control, but were not found after 90 min ischemia or at 5 or 60 min after reperfusion of ischemic tissue. These findings suggest that lipid peroxidation may not be an early event in ischemia-induced necrosis but do not rule out a role of other free-radical reactions in the pathogenesis of ischemic necrosis.