Effects of the phlebotropic drug Daflon 500 mg on postischemic reperfusion injury in striated skin muscle: a histomorphologic study in the hamster.

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the purified, micronized, flavonoid fraction Daflon 500 mg (S 5682, 90% diosmin and 10% hesperidin) on tissue damage and leukocyte emigration in striated skin muscle after ischemia-reperfusion, as assessed by histomorphometric analysis. The experimental model used was the transparent dorsal skin fold chamber in the awake Syrian golden hamster. Sixty-four animals were randomly allotted to two treatment groups and time points of investigation. Animals were fed with 30 mg kg –1 body weight Daflon 500 mg ( n = 32) or its vehicle, 5% Arabic gum solution ( n = 32), as control 8 hours before ischemia. Before induction of a tourniquet ischemia of 4 hours' duration and at 0.5, 2, and 24 hours of reperfusion, tissue sections were preserved for light and electron microscopic analysis ( n = seven or eight animals per time point). The number of intravascular and extravascular leukocytes was determined by light microscopic analysis of esterase-positive leukocytes. For quantitative analysis of ischemia-induced endothelial cell damage, the endothelial thickness of capillaries was calculated by a computer-assisted imaging system, whereas the ischemic tissue damage was assessed by means of a score system (grade 0-3) by an independent investigator. The number of emigrated leukocytes was significantly reduced in Daflon 500 mg–treated animals compared with numbers found in control animals. The histomorphologic muscle fiber damage increased after reperfusion in both groups but was significantly reduced in the Daflon 500 mg–treated animals 2 and 24 hours after reperfusion. These results suggest that the emigration of leukocytes plays an important role in the development of postischemic reperfusion injury of striated skin muscle. (J Lab Clin Med 1999;134:536-45)