Mechanisms of postischemic injury in skeletal muscle: intervention strategies. Rubin, Barry B., Alexander Romaschin, Paul M. Walker, Dean C. Gute, and Ronald J. Korthuis. R. Fraser Elliott Vascular Research Laboratory, The Toronto Hospital, University of Toronto, Department of Surgery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Department of Physiology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, School of Medicine in Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
APStracts 2:0490A, 1995.
Reperfusion of ischemic skeletal muscle leads to adverse local and systemic effects. These detrimental effects may be attenuated by interfering with or modulating the pathophysiologic processes which are set in motion during ischemia and/or reperfusion. The purpose of this paper is to review the different intervention strategies which have been employed in an attempt to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of skeletal muscle ischemia/reperfusion injury. The results of these studies indicate that the postischemic injury processes that lead to cell dysfunction and death are multifactorial in nature and include oxidant generation, elaboration of proinflammatory mediators, infiltration of leukocytes, Ca++ overload, intravascular coagulation and reduced ATP production. Although the etiopathogenesis of skeletal muscle ischemia/reperfusion is complex, careful delineation of the mechanisms which contribute to postischemic microvascular dysfunction and muscle necrosis has progressed to the point where rational intervention strategies may be proposed and implemented as potential treatments for skeletal muscle dysfunction associated with ischemia/reperfusion.

Received 16 May 1995; accepted in final form 27 September 1995.
APS Manuscript Number A512-5.
Article publication pending Journal of Applied Physiology.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 30 November 95