Protective effect of Mailuoning on ischemia/reperfusion injury in extremities of rabbits

Objective To study the protective effect of Mailuoning on ischemia/reperfusion injury in extremities. Methods The experimental models of ischemia/reperfusion injury in extremities were produced in 20 healthy adult rabbits, which were randomly divided into control group and Mailuoning group (10 rabbits each). Normal saline and Mailuoning injection were infused intravenously into ear margin of rabbits in the control group and Mailuoning group respectively just before blood reperfusion. At preischemia, two hours post ischemia, one hour post reperfusion and four hours post reperfusion, blood sample was collected from the femoral veins respectively for measurements of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Meanwhile, the tibialis anterior muscles were harvested for examination of the microstructure and the ultrastructure by using optical microscope and electron microscope. Results The contents of AST, LDH, CK, MDA increased significantly ( P 0.01) and the activity of SOD obviously decreased in the control group after reperfusion ( P 0.01). The indices showed insignificant changes after reperfusion in the Mailuoning group but very significant difference compared with the control group ( P 0.01). The light microscope and electron microscope examinations showed severe tissue injury in the control group but mild in the Mailuoning group after reperfusion. Conclusion Mailuoning has a significant protective effect on ischemia/reperfusion injury in extremities.