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Changes in the antioxidative defensive system during open heart operations in humans
1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|July 1, 1994
Summary
Reperfusion after heart surgery can cause damage, but the body
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Biochemistry
- Oxidative Stress Research
Background:
- Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury can worsen heart damage.
- Oxygen free radicals are suspected contributors to this injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes in myocardial reperfusion injury.
- To assess biochemical markers in cyanotic patients undergoing open-heart surgery for tetralogy of Fallot.
Main Methods:
- Spectrophotometric assays were used to measure enzyme activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, lactate dehydrogenase) and tissue contents (malondialdehyde, glutathione) in myocardial tissue.
- Samples were taken immediately after aortic cross-clamping (control) and after reperfusion.
Main Results:
- Activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase significantly increased post-reperfusion.
- Malondialdehyde levels significantly increased post-reperfusion, indicating lipid peroxidation.
- Lactate dehydrogenase activity and the ratio of oxidized to total glutathione showed no significant changes.
Conclusions:
- Reperfusion triggers cardiac lipid peroxidation, but endogenous antioxidant systems are activated.
- While oxygen free radicals play a role in reperfusion stress, the myocardial cellular damage appears insignificant in this context.