No contralateral neutrophil (PMN) stimulation after rabbit hindlimb ischemia/reperfusion

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) have been implicated as mediators of the reperfusion injury that occurs in skeletal muscle after ischemia. Our laboratory has previously shown that the venous effluent from rabbit hindlimbs that have undergone 2 or 3 hours of ischemia followed by 1 hour of reperfusion contains PMNs that demonstrate increased phagocytosis and chemotaxis when assayed. It was the purpose of this study to evaluate PMNs from the contralateral rabbit hindlimb utilizing the same periods of ischemia and reperfusion to determine whether this PMN-induced effect is localized to the ischemic limb. Rabbit hindlimbs were rendered ischemic by clamping the iliac and femoral arteries for 2 or 3 hours after ligating all pelvic collateral vessels. The ischemic limb was then allowed to reperfuse for 1 hour following removal of the clamps. Preischemia blood samples were obtained from an ear artery prior to placement of the clamps. A venous effluent sample was obtained to study PMNs from the contralateral limb after an ischemic period of either 2 or 3 hours and again after 1 hour of reperfusion. Phagocytosis and chemotaxis were measured and results were compared. No differences in phagocytosis or chemotaxis were observed in PMNs isolated from the contralateral limb after 2 and 3 hours of ischemia alone or ischemia followed by 1 hour of reperfusion in comparison with preischemia values. There were no significant alterations in phagocytosis or chemotaxis in PMNs obtained from the contralateral limb following ischemia/reperfusion.