| Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: To determine whether tramadol has a protective effect against lung injury
induced by skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion. METHODS: Twenty Wistar male rats were allocated to one of two groups:
ischemia-reperfusion (IR) and ischemia-reperfusion + tramadol (IR+T). The
animals were anesthetized with intramuscular injections of ketamine and
xylazine (50 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively). All of the animals underwent
2-h ischemia by occlusion of the femoral artery and 24-h reperfusion. Prior
to the occlusion of the femoral artery, 250 IU heparin were administered via
the jugular vein in order to prevent clotting. The rats in the IR+T group
were treated with tramadol (20 mg/kg i.v.) immediately before reperfusion.
After the reperfusion period, the animals were euthanized with pentobarbital
(300 mg/kg i.p.), the lungs were carefully removed, and specimens were
properly prepared for histopathological and biochemical studies. RESULTS: Myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide levels were significantly higher
in the IR group than in the IR+T group (p = 0.001 for both). Histological
abnormalities, such as intra-alveolar edema, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, and
neutrophil infiltration, were significantly more common in the IR group than
in the IR+T group. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of our histological and biochemical findings, we conclude that
tramadol prevents lung tissue injury after skeletal muscle
ischemia-reperfusion. |
