Recent evidence suggests that oxygen free radicals may partially mediate irreversible ischemia-reperfusion injury in the myocardium. In the present study, the effect of a combination of two oxygen free radical scavengers, superoxide dismutase plus catalase (SOD + CAT), on the recovery of subendocardial segment function following 15 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by 3 h of reperfusion ("stunned" myocardium) was compared with a control group in barbital-anesthetized dogs. Myocardial segment shortening (%SS) in the subendocardium of nonischemic and ischemic areas was measured by sonomicrometry and regional blood flow by radioactive microspheres. SOD and CAT were infused into the left atrium 30 min before and throughout the occlusion period. Compared with the control group, %SS in the subendocardium of the ischemic region was significantly (P less than 0.05) greater in the SOD plus CAT-treated group during occlusion and throughout reperfusion. Since there were no significant differences in hemodynamics or regional myocardial blood flow between the SOD plus CAT and the control groups, these results suggest that toxic oxygen free radicals may be partially involved in the reversible ischemic injury that occurs during short periods of coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion.
"Reperfusion injury" by oxygen-derived free radicals? Effect of superoxide dismutase plus catalase, given at the time of reperfusion, on myocardial infarct size, contractile function, coronary microvasculature, and regional myocardial blood flow.