Temporal and spatial relationship between the no-reflow phenomenon
and postischemic necrosis in skeletal muscle.
Hickey, Michael J., John V. Hurley, Wayne A. Morrison.
The Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery, St. Vincent's
Hospital, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Vic., 3065, Australia, Ph: 61
3 9288 4018, Fax: 61 3 9416 0926
APStracts 3:0145H, 1996.
The aim of these experiments was to describe clearly the spatial
relationship between the no-reflow phenomenon and tissue injury in
postischemic skeletal muscle. Using the rectus femoris muscle of
anesthetized rabbits, microvascular perfusion was examined in
untreated muscles, and after 3 1/2 hours of ischemia and 10 minutes,
1 hour and 24 hours reperfusion. Microvascular perfusion was assessed
by infusion of biological ink, and quantitation of [1] the area of
capillary filling in histological sections, and [2] the ratio of
perfused capillaries to muscle fibres in perfused areas (C:F ratio).
After 10 minutes reperfusion, perfused cross-sectional area had
decreased from 67.0 +/- 20.0% (s.d.) to 10.6 +/- 5.6%, and C:F ratio
was also significantly reduced. These changes persisted for at least
24 hours. After 10 minutes of reperfusion, flow was randomly
distributed throughout the muscle. However after 24 hours, perfusion
was confined to the peripheral tissue, in areas which were also
viable as demonstrated by nitro blue tetrazolium staining. These
results show that in this model, in the early stages of reperfusion,
flow is established in some areas which are destined to become
necrotic.
Received 6 November 1995; accepted in final form 27 March 1996.
APS Manuscript Number H1037-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 16 April 96