The effects of iloprost on ischemia-reperfusion injury in skeletal muscles in a rodent model

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of iloprost (IL) on ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rodent model.

Materials and methods

Twenty-four Wistar Albino rats were randomized into four groups (n = 6). Laparotomy was performed in all groups under general anesthesia. Only laparotomy was applied in group S (Sham). Ischemia-reperfusion group (group I/R) underwent ischemia and reperfusion performed by clamping and declamping of the infrarenal abdominal aorta for 120 min. The iloprost group (group IL) received intravenous infusion of IL 0.5 ng/kg/min, without I/R. Group I/R + IL received intravenous infusion of IL 0.5 ng/kg/min immediately after 2 h period of ischemia. At the end of the reperfusion period, all rats were killed under anesthesia and skeletal muscle samples of lower extremity were harvested for biochemical and histopathologic analyses.

Results

Tissue levels of endothelial nitric oxide were significantly higher in I/R groups than those in groups S and IL. The heat shock protein 60 levels were higher in group I/R than the other groups. But the heat shock protein 60 levels in group I/R + IL were found to be similar with the groups S and IL. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in group I/R. On the other hand, in group I/R + IL, malondialdehyde levels were higher than those in groups S and IL but lower than those in group I/R. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities were found to be significantly lower in group I/R than the other groups. Also in group I/R/I, the SOD enzyme activities were higher than those in group I/R. But, in group I/R + IL, SOD levels were found to be higher than those in group I/R but lower than those in groups S and IL.

Conclusions

These results indicate that IL has protective effects on I/R injury in skeletal muscle in a rodent model.