冷冻保存大鼠肝脏离体再灌注时嘌呤核苷磷酸酶活性和透明质酸吸收率的变化

目的探讨不同保存液保存大鼠肝脏后离体再灌注时嘌呤核苷磷酸酶(PNP)活性和透明质酸吸收率的变化及意义。方法分别采用UW液、HTK液和Celsior液灌洗、冷保存Wistar大鼠肝脏16及24 h,然后用37℃的Kreb-Henseleit液在常温下连续灌注90 min,分别于灌注0、15、30、60和90 min时,从灌注液中取样,测定嘌呤核苷磷酸酶活性和外源性透明质酸吸收率的变化,据此评价肝窦内皮细胞的状况。结果经过16 h的低温保存,在再灌注60 min以前,HTK液组灌注液中PNP的含量明显高于UW液组和Celsior液组(P<0.01);再灌注60 min后,HTK液组和Celsior液组灌注液中PNP的含量明显高于UW液组(P<0.01)。经过24 h的低温保存,在再灌注15 min后,HTK液组灌注液中PNP含量明显高于Celsior液组(P<0.01),而Celsior液组又明显高于UW液组(P<0.01)。透明质酸的吸收率均为负值,说明内源性透明质酸的释放大于外源性透明质酸的吸收,且随着保存时间和再灌注时间的延长,这一趋势更加明显,其中HTK液组最明显,Celsior液组次之。结论随着低温保存和再灌注时间的延长,肝脏中PNP活性逐渐升高,外源性透明质酸的吸收率下降,二者可作为评价肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤的指标。     

intermedin对肾脏缺血再灌注损伤后血管再生相关因子表达的影响

目的 观察intermedin（IMD）对肾脏缺血再灌注损伤(IRI)后血管生长相关因子缺血诱导因子1α（HIF-1α）、血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）和血管生成素受体Tie-2表达的影响。探讨intermedin对肾脏IRI的修复作用。 方法 Wistar大鼠按随机数字表法分为4组：假手术组、IRI组、转空质粒组、转IMD质粒组。大鼠右肾切除后1周,用超声微泡造影剂介导的基因转染方法将大鼠IMD真核表达质粒转染大鼠肾脏,转染成功后夹闭左肾动脉45 min制作肾脏IRI模型。分别于再灌注1 d、2 d、3 d、4 d、7 d和14 d后留取肾组织标本,采用RT-PCR检测HIF-1α、VEGF和Tie-2的mRNA表达;Western印迹法检测肾组织VEGF的蛋白表达;ELISA检测HIF-1α和Tie-2的蛋白表达。 结果 与假手术组相比,IRI组HIF-1α mRNA和蛋白质表达于再灌注后1 d达到高峰,2 d时持续高表达,3 d时表达开始明显下降,4 d、7 d和14 d时接近于假手术组;VEGF和Tie-2表达均于再灌注后1 d开始增加,2 d达到高峰,3 d开始下降,4 d、7 d和14 d接近于假手术组;转IMD质粒组大鼠肾组织HIF-1α、VEGF和Tie-2 mRNA和蛋白质的表达于再灌注后1 d、2 d、3 d和4 d显著高于同时间点的IRI组大鼠（均P ＜ 0.05）,并且均于再灌注后1 d表达达到高峰,2～3 d持续表达,4 d开始下降,7 d和14 d的表达无明显改变。上述各指标在转空质粒和IRI组之间的表达差异无统计学意义。 结论 肾脏局部高表达的IMD不仅促进了肾脏IRI后血管再生相关因子HIF-1α、VEGF和Tie-2的表达,而且使表达高峰提前并延长了表达时间,可能参与了肾脏组织的修复和再生。     

Poly adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase inhibitor PJ34 abolishes systemic proinflammatory responses to thoracic aortic ischemia and reperfusion

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammatory responses contribute to mortality after thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair. Poly adenosine diphosphate (ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP) activity is known to modulate inflammation in animal models of injury. The effect of the PARP inhibitor PJ34 and genetic deletion of PARP-1(PARP -/-) on the systemic inflammatory response after thoracic aortic ischemia reperfusion (TAR) is not known. STUDY DESIGN: In one group, all mice were subject to TAR followed by 48 hours of reperfusion. Treated mice (PJ, n=24) were given PJ34 IP; untreated mice (UN, n=41) received normal saline intraperitoneally. The number of mice in each group was selected to have a similar number of survivors by 48 hours. In a second group, sham animals were subjected to mediastinotomy alone (sham, n=10) without TAR, and were compared with mice with deletion of the PARP-1 isoform (PARP-1 -/-, n=11) subjected to TAR. Tissue extracts were assayed for keratinocyte derived chemokine and granulocyte colony stimulating factor. Serum was assayed for interleukin-6. RESULTS: PJ34 treatment decreased mortality throughout the experimental protocol. There were no mortalities in the sham operated mice or PARP -/- mice subjected to TAR. PJ34 treatment decreased serum levels of interleukin-6 (p=0.01) and hepatic levels of interleukin-6 mRNA when compared with untreated and PARP-/- mice (p < 0.01). Only liver and kidney cytokine levels were decreased by PJ34 treatment (p < 0.05). In PARP-/- mice subjected to TAR, tissue cytokine levels were not different from those in sham mice. CONCLUSIONS: PARP inhibition may represent a novel therapeutic approach to minimizing inflammatory sequelae after TAR.     

Entacapone scavenges peroxynitrite and protects against kidney and liver injuries induced by renal ischemia/reperfusion in rats

International Urology and Nephrology - Acute kidney injury (AKI), secondary to renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), is a serious problem associated with high mortality. The pathophysiology of AKI...     

Genetic traits of avascular necrosis of the femoral head analyzed by array comparative genomic hybridization and real-time polymerase chain reaction

In an attempt to observe the genetic traits of avascular necrosis of the femoral head, we analyzed the genomic alterations in blood samples of 18 patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head (9 idiopathic and 9 alcoholic cases) using the array comparative genomic hybridization method and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Several candidate genes were identified that may induce avascular necrosis of the femoral head, and we investigated their role in the pathomechanism of osteonecrosis of bone. The frequency of each candidate gene over all the categories of avascular necrosis of the femoral head was also calculated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The highest frequency specific genes in each category were FLJ40296, CYP27C1, and CTDP1. FLJ40296 and CYP27C1 had the highest frequency (55.6%) in the idiopathic category. FLJ40296 had a high frequency (44.4%) in the alcoholic category, but CYP27C1 had a relatively low frequency (33.3%) in the alcoholic category. However, CTDP1 showed a significantly high frequency (55.6%) in the alcoholic category and a low frequency (22.2%) in the idiopathic category. Although we statistically analyzed the frequency of each gene with Fisher's exact test, we could not prove statistical significance due to the small number of samples. Further studies are needed with larger sample numbers. If the causal genes of avascular necrosis of the femoral head are found, they may be used for early detection, prognosis prediction, and genomic treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head in the future.     

大鼠肝缺血及再灌注所致小肠过氧化损伤及丹参的保护作用

目的 观察大鼠肝缺血再灌注小肠过氧化损伤及丹参预处理的保护作用.方法 首先将SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组(CO组)、假手术组(SO组)、缺血再灌注组(IR组)、丹参预处理组(SM组),分别在肝缺血30、45、60 min时取上段空肠进行大体病理学检测;然后在肝缺血45 min条件下,动物亦随机分为4组(CO组、SO组、IR组、SM组),按再灌注后不同时间(0、3、12、24、72 h)分为5个亚组,每组5只.SM组在阻断第一肝门30 min前经尾静脉推注丹参注射液6 g/kg加生理盐水40 ml/kg,其余各组按40 ml/kg给予生理盐水尾静脉注入,SO组开腹后仅解剖肝门,不钳夹肝蒂.分别在再灌注0、3、12、24、72 h取上段空肠行病理学检查、丙二醛(MDA)含量测定、髓过氧化物酶(MPO)活性测定.结果 空肠黏膜损伤评分随肝缺血时限延长而加重;在肝缺血45 min再灌注不同时限点SM组空肠黏膜损伤较IR组明显减轻,且肠组织MDA含量、MPO活性均低于IR组(P<0.05).结论 肝缺血再灌注所致小肠明显淤血性损伤,MDA含量、MPO活性升高,丹参预处理对肝缺血再灌注所致小肠损伤具有保护作用.     

肠缺血/再灌注对肝脏自由基的影响及亚甲蓝的抗损伤作用

目的 研究肠缺血/再灌注(I/R)后氧自由基(ROS)对远隔器官肝脏的损伤作用,探讨亚甲蓝(MB)抗肝脏损伤的作用机制。方法 新西兰白兔32只,体重2.3～2.9 kg,随机分为4组,(1)正常组:本组仅做假手术处理。(2)I/R组:本组通过夹闭兔肠系膜前动脉1h复制肠I/R模型。(3)治疗A组:本组于松夹后静脉内给予MB 3 mg·kg-1。(4)治疗B组:本组于松夹后静脉内给予MB 15 mg·kg-1。颈总动脉置管,连续监测血压。于夹闭前、松夹即刻、松夹后30 min、1h和2h取血测定血中MDA浓度。实验结束后取一小块肝组织用于测定超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、黄嘌呤氧化酶(XO)及MDA。结果与I/R前基础值比较,I/R组血中MDA水平I/R后显著增加,同时血压显著下降;而治疗A组及B组血中MDA水平于I/R后均未显著增加。与正常组比较,I/R组肝组织MDA水平显著增高,而正常组与两个治疗组间肝组织中MDA无显著差异。结论 MB能减少肠I/R后ROS的生成并能对抗ROS对肝脏的损伤作用。     

缺血预处理与急性心肌缺血/再灌注细胞凋亡及Bcl-2、BaX蛋白表达的关系

目的：研究缺血预处理对急性心肌缺血／再灌注细胞凋亡的影响及与Bcl-2,Bax蛋白表达的关系。方法：用在体心肌缺血／再灌注模型，将实验动物分为3组：对照组，缺血／再灌注组，缺血预处理组。分别用原末端标记（TUNEL）法测定凋亡细胞和用免疫组化法测定Bcl-2,Bax蛋白的表达。结果：与对照组相比，缺血／再灌注组增加凋亡心肌细胞的百分数（P＜0．01）及Bax蛋白的光密度值（P＜0．01），减小Bcl-2蛋白的光密度值（P＜0．01），与缺血／再灌注组相比，缺血预处理减小凋亡心肌细胞百分数（P＜0．01）及Bax蛋白的光密度值（P＜0．05），增加Bcl-2蛋白的光密度值（P＜0．01）。结论：缺血预处理通过调控Bcl-2/Bax表达而抑制心肌缺血／再灌注细胞凋亡。     

Hepatic stellate cell activation and hepatic fibrosis induced by ischemia/reperfusion injury

Objective

Warm ischemia causes severe allograft damage in liver transplantation. However, the long-term effects of ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) on fibrosis have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we used a partial warm hepatic ischemia mouse model to monitor fibrosis in the ischemic liver.

Materials and Methods

Male BALB/c mice were divided into ischemic and sham groups (n = 30/group). Via a midline laparotomy, an atraumatic clip was used to interrupt the arterial and the portal venous blood supply to the left liver lobe. After 90 minutes of partial hepatic ischemia, the clip was removed initiating hepatic reperfusion. Samples from normal, sham, and ischemic liver tissues were collected at intervals of 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 30 days after operation (n = 5 for each time point) for hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), Mallory's trichrome, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) immunohistochemical stains for fibrosis and activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSCs).

Results

IRI caused significant HSC activation in the ischemic liver tissues. Mallory's trichrome stain demonstrated that IRI caused hepatic parenchymal fibrosis near portal tracts and central veins. With prolonged reperfusion time hepatic parenchymal fibrosis was aggravated, showing the same pattern of HSC activation. IRI also caused increased portal tract fibrosis in ischemic liver tissues, especially around biliary tracts.

Conclusions

Hepatic IRI caused HSC activation, increasing hepatic parenchymal and portal tract fibrosis in ischemic liver tissues.     

Splenectomy ameliorates acute multiple organ damage induced by liver warm ischemia reperfusion in rats

BACKGROUND: Liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) results in the release of destructive proinflammatory cytokines and oxygen-derived radicals, which in turn cause injury to liver and other organs such as kidney, lung, and intestine. Splenectomy protects organs from intestinal I/R injury. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate whether splenectomy could also ameliorate multiple organ damage caused by liver I/R. METHODS: Wistar rats randomly assigned into 4 groups underwent sham-operation, splenectomy, hepatic I/R induced by occlusion of hepatic artery and portal vein, and splenectomy plus hepatic I/R, respectively. Blood samples were collected for assessing aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels. The activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in liver tissues was assessed. Livers, kidneys, lungs, and small intestines underwent histopathologic examination for scoring injury severity and TUNEL assay for cell apoptosis. The expression of caspase-3 was evaluated with Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Liver I/R resulted in liver injury as evidenced by morphologic abnormalities, increased serum activities of AST and ALT, and increased percentage of apoptotic cells. The activity of MPO in liver tissues and the serum levels of TNF-alpha were increased after I/R. Splenectomy significantly decreased the histologic severity score, apoptotic index, MPO activity, and serum levels of AST, ALT, and TNF-alpha. Hepatic I/R also caused damage to kidneys, lungs, and small intestines, as evaluated by histologic alterations and increased apoptotic cells; these changes were ameliorated by splenectomy. The expression of caspase-3 was upregulated in the 4 organs by hepatic I/R and inhibited by splenectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Splenectomy protects the liver as well as the kidney, lung, and intestine from injury by hepatic I/R. Although the mechanism needs further investigation, this study demonstrated that splenectomy inhibited leukocyte infiltration in livers, release of TNF-alpha, cell apoptosis, and expression of caspase-3.     

Interleukin-13 gene transfer protects rat livers from antigen-independent injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a prime inflammatory factor in the dysfunction of orthotopic liver transplants. Interleukin (IL)-13 suppresses macrophage production of proinflammatory mediators. This study explores the effects of adenovirus (Ad)-based IL-13 gene transfer in rat models of hepatic I/R injury. METHODS: The authors used a model of warm in situ ischemia followed by reperfusion, and ex vivo cold ischemia followed by transplantation. RESULTS: In a model of warm in situ ischemia followed by reperfusion, Ad-based IL-13 significantly diminished hepatocellular injury, assessed by serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) levels, as compared with Ad-based beta-galactosidase (gal)-treated livers. In a model of ex vivo cold ischemia followed by transplantation, the survival of liver grafts increased from 50% in Ad-beta-gal untreated controls to 100% after Ad-IL-13 gene therapy. This beneficial effect correlated with improved liver function (SGOT levels), preservation of hepatic histologic integrity and architecture (Suzuki criteria), and depression of neutrophil infiltration (myeloperoxidase assay). Ad-IL-13 diminished activation of macrophage-neutrophil-associated tumor necrosis factor-alpha, macrophage inflammatory protein-2, and endothelial-dependent E-selectin, but increased type 2 IL-4 and IL-13 expression. CONCLUSIONS: This study documents striking cytoprotective effects of virally induced IL-13 against hepatic I/R injury in two clinically relevant rat models of hepatic I/R injury. These data provide the rationale for novel therapeutic approaches to maximize the organ donor pool through the safer use of liver transplants despite prolonged periods of warm or cold ischemia, or both.     

转染血红素氧合酶-1基因减轻大鼠脂肪肝移植后的缺血再灌注损伤

目的 探讨转染血红素氧合酶-1(HO-1)基因对大鼠脂肪肝移植后缺血再灌注损伤的影响.方法 利用分子生物学方法构建携带有HO-1基因的重组腺病毒(Ad5-HO-1),于供肝切取前48 h经阴茎背静脉将Ad5-HO-1注入供者体内,供肝置于4℃HTK液保存2 h,然后移植.对照组接受正常肝移植;轻度对照组接受轻度脂肪肝移植;轻度实验组接受注射Ad5～HO-1的轻度脂肪肝移植;重度对照组接受重度脂肪肝移植;重度实验组接受注射Ad5-HO-1的重度脂肪肝移植.术后观察各组大鼠的存活率及肝功能;观察移植肝组织的病理变化;测定移植肝组织中HO-1的活性以及HO-1、Bcl-2、锌指蛋白A20、凋亡蛋白酶-3(Caspase-3)的表达.结果 与重度对照组相比较,重度实验组的丙氨酸转氨酶水平显著下降(P＜0.05).轻度实验组和重度实验组的HO-1活性分别高于各自的对照组(P＜0.05).重度实验组移植肝组织中HO-1、Bcl-2及锌指蛋白A20的表达水平明显高于重度对照组(P＜0.05),而Caspase-3的表达是降低的(P＜0.05).重度实验组的1、7、21 d存活率分别为66.7%(4/6)、50%(3/6)和50%(3/6),而重度对照组的1、7、21 d存活率分别为33.3%(2/6)、16.7%(1/6)和16.7%(1/6),二者比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 转染血HO-1基因可减轻大鼠脂肪肝移植后的缺血再灌注损伤.     

盐酸戊乙奎醚后处理对肢体缺血-再灌注大鼠肝损伤的影响

目的探讨盐酸戊乙奎醚对肢体缺血-再灌注大鼠肝损伤的影响。方法健康雄性Wistar大鼠108只,随机分为三组:对照组(C组)、肢体缺血-再灌注组(LIR组)及盐酸戊乙奎醚组(PHC组)。用弹力橡皮筋完全阻断大鼠双后肢血流3h,PHC组在缺血177min自尾静脉注射盐酸戊乙奎醚0.15mg/kg。三组分别在再灌注即刻(T0)、1h(T1)、3h(T2)、6h(T3)、12h(T4)、24h(T5)取血和肝组织,测定血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)的活性,肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素10(IL-10)的浓度;检测肝组织丙二醛(MDA)含量及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、髓过氧化物酶(MPO)活性;光镜观察肝脏病理改变。结果 T3时LIR组及PHC组血清ALT、AST活性、肝脏组织MPO活性达到高峰;肝组织SOD活性最低,T1时血清TNF-α浓度达到高峰。与LIR组比较,T1～T3时PHC组血清ALT、AST活性下降,T1时血清TNF-α浓度下降,T1～T4时血清IL-10浓度升高,T1、T3时肝组织MDA含量降低,T1～T5时SOD活性升高,T1～T3时MPO活性下降(P<0.05)。光镜下,PHC组T3时肝组织病理学改变轻于LIR组。结论盐酸戊乙奎醚后处理对肢体缺血-再灌注大鼠肝脏具有一定保护作用,其机制可能与抑制活性氧生成及炎症反应有关。     

Apoptosis induced by ischemia and reperfusion in experimental lung transplantation

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis is a distinct form of single-cell death in response to injury. Time course of apoptosis in lung parenchymal cells during posttransplant reperfusion and the influence of oxygen content during preservation on apoptosis of parenchymal cells are studied. METHODS: Orthotopic syngenic single left lung transplantation was performed in male Fischer (F344) rats after 18 hours of cold ischemia (n = 5 in all groups). Apoptotic cells were stained by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique. Strictly TUNEL-positive pneumocytes were counted on anonymized slides by a pathologist on 100 fields (x400) per specimen (mean +/- SEM). RESULTS: The peak of apoptotic pneumocytes occurred 2 hours after reperfusion (16.8 +/- 2.2 pneumocytes/100 fields [p/100f]; p = 0.000012 vs controls, lungs fixed after 18 hours of ischemia), whereas the lowest level of apoptotic pneumocytes was seen in lungs fixed after harvest (1.4 +/- 0.51 p/100f) and lungs not undergoing reperfusion (2.8 +/- 0.49 p/100f). Four hours after reperfusion, the number of apoptotic pneumocytes was lower than 2 hours after reperfusion (13.6 +/- 3.1 p/100f; p = 0.00032 vs controls), with a further decline at 8 hours (6.4 +/- 1.5 p/100f) and 12 hours after reperfusion (4.0 + 1.2 p/100f). Interestingly, lungs inflated with N2 before storage revealed a significantly lower level of TUNEL-positive pneumocytes 2 hours after reperfusion (8.8 2.0 p/100f) compared with lungs inflated with 100% O2 (p = 0.0052). CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis of pneumocytes after posttransplant lung reperfusion is a very early event. Prolonged hypothermic preservation without reperfusion, however, does not lead to an elevated rate of apoptotic pneumocytes in lung grafts.     

依达拉奉对大鼠小肠缺血-再灌注所致肺损伤的保护作用

目的探讨依达拉奉对大鼠小肠缺血-再灌注所致肺损伤的保护作用。方法雄性SD大鼠18只,随机均分为假手术组(Sham组),缺血-再灌注组(IR组)和依达拉奉组(E组)。Sham组只分离肠系膜上动脉,不做其他处理;IR组分离肠系膜上动脉,从大鼠尾静脉注射与E组等量的生理盐水后,用无创动脉夹夹闭120min后移去动脉夹,再灌注120min;E组在缺血-再灌注前静脉注射依达拉奉6mg/kg。再灌注120min后采集标本。肺组织HE染色后病理学检测,采集腹主动脉血液检测大鼠血清中TNF-α和IL-6浓度,取肺组织检测髓过氧化物酶(MPO)活性和丙二醛(MDA)浓度。结果与Sham组比较,IR组肺泡上皮细胞广泛水肿、炎性细胞浸润、肺泡肺萎陷、肺毛细血管扩张出血;E组肺组织病理改变较IR组明显改善,肺泡炎性渗出减少;E组病理评分为(2.1±0.7)分,明显低于IR组的(5.7±1.1)分,IR组病理评分明显高于Sham组的(1.5±0.2)分(P0.01);血清中TNF-α和IL-6的浓度明显少于IR组,肺组织中MPO活性和MDA浓度明显低于IR组(P0.01)。结论依达拉奉能够明显改善小肠缺血-再灌注性肺损伤。     

Protective effect of carnosol on lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion

Purpose  

Carnosol is a phenolic diterpene that has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preconditioning effects of carnosol on lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (II/R).     

Inhibition of surgically induced ischemia/reperfusion injury by oxygen free radical scavengers

Recent experimental work implicates oxygen free radicals as mediators of ischemia/reperfusion injury. A simple cardioplegic solution was designed to scavenge superoxide anion and hydroxyl free radical with superoxide dismutase (10 micrograms/ml), mannitol (325 mOsm/L), and KCl 25 mEq/L (FRS). Hemodynamic and subcellular functions were studied in seven in situ canine models of hypothermic global ischemia receiving FRS, compared to a group (n = 7) receiving hyperosmolar, hyperkalemic saline (HSK) and to a standard model of topical hypothermia (TH, n = 5). Following 60 minutes of ischemia (10 degrees to 15 degrees C), hearts were reperfused and rewarmed. After 45 minutes of reperfusion, left ventricular peak systolic pressure (LVPSP), developed pressure (LVDP), dP/dt max, -dP/dt max, compliance, and elastic stiffness constant (K) were improved in the FRS group and not significantly different from control. Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium transport in the FRS group was significantly improved (control = 1.077 +/- 0.022, TH = 0.754 +/- 0.018, HSK = 0.725 +/- 0.05, and FRS = 0.966 +/- 0.05 mumol/mg-min). Calcium adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity did not differ significantly from control at pH 7.0. In this model of hypothermic global ischemia and reperfusion, free radical scavengers provide significant protection of mechanical and subcellular function. These findings support the hypothesis that oxygen free radicals are important mediators of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury.