A Perfluorochemical Prevents Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury of Muscle

Abstract This investigation evaluated the effect of oxygenated perfluorochemical (PFC) perfusion on the viability of ischemic skeletal muscle compared to hypothermic preservation. Twenty-five hindlimbs of 13 white rabbits were divided into five groups: a PFC group (7 hr of ischemia with 6 hr of PFC perfusion), a PFC/reperfusion group (8 hr of ischemia with 6 hr of PFC perfusion and 1 hr reperfusion), a hypothermia group (7 hr of ischemia with 6 hr of 4°C cold preservation), a hypothermia/reperfusion group (8 hr of ischemia with 6 hr of 4°C cold preservation and 1 hr of reperfusion), and a control group. The levels of adenine nucleotides, creatine phosphate, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and lipid peroxide were determined in each group. In the PFC and PFC/reperfusion groups, the ATP level remained at 90% of that in the control group. The hypoxanthine level in the hypothermia/reperfusion group was decreased to 70% of that in the hypothermia group and the xanthine level was increased to 130%. In the PFC and PFC/reperfusion groups, hypoxanthine and xanthine levels were much lower and were similar to those in the control group. Lipid peroxide levels were also lower in the PFC and PFC/reperfusion groups than in the hypothermia/reperfusion group. Electron microscopy showed that endothelial cells from the PFC/reperfusion groups were not swollen. These results suggest that PFC perfusion is superior to hypothermia in inhibiting the generation of free radicals and in preventing ischemia–reperfusion injury of skeletal muscle.