[Effect of endogenous carbon monoxide on oxidant-mediated multiple organ injury following limb ischemia-reperfusion in rats].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the role of endogenous carbon monoxide(CO) in oxidant-mediated organ injury following limb ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.

METHODS

Sixty-four SD rats were divided into 4 groups: Sham group, Sham + zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP, an inhibitor of heme oxygenase activity), 2-hour ischemia followed by 4-hour reperfusion (I/R) group and I/R + ZnPP group. Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level in the artery blood, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the lung, heart, liver and kidney were detected. The 24-hour survival rate of rats was studied.

RESULTS

Compared with the sham group, the COHb level and MDA content significantly increased, while the SOD activity and the survival rate significantly decreased in I/R group (P < 0.05). Compared with the I/R group, MDA content significantly increased, while the SOD activity, the 24-hour survival rate and COHb level significantly decreased in I/R + ZnPP group (P < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Limb I/R could lead to the oxidant-mediated multiple organ injury accompanied by the increase of CO level which play an important role in the defense against I/R-induced remote multiple organ injury in rats.