Free radicals induce ischemia-reperfusion injury and histamine release in the isolated guinea pig heart.

Free radicals are produced by perfusion of isolated guinea pig heart with FeCl3/ADP (10 microM/100 microM) and/or occlusion and opening of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Cardiac histopathology was correlated with histamine and lactate dehydrogenase release and with malondialdehyde production. A differential release of histamine and lactate dehydrogenase in the perfusate was detected, showing a preferential liberation of histamine in the reperfusion phase. The increase in lipid peroxidation product in left ventricular tissues after left coronary artery occlusion was maximal at the end of ischemia.