Blockage of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the prevention of reperfusion lesion in the skeletal musculature of EPM-1 Wistar rats

Abstract

Purpose: Ischemia-reperfusion lesions are a form of acute inflammation in which leukocytes are considered to play a pivotal role. This study was made with the objective of determining whether the blockage of intracellular adhesion molecule-1, involved in the diapedesis of leukocytes, is efficacious in minimizing this lesions in the skeletal musculature of the posterior limbs of rats. Methods: The juxta-infrarenal aorta of three groups of six adult rats was clipped for six hours. After this, one group was sacrificed (control group) and the others underwent 24 hours of reperfusion, one with 0.9% physiological saline (reperfusion group) and the other with anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibodies (ICAM-1 group). A myeloperoxidase assay was utilized for estimating the infiltrate of neutrophils. Biopsies were obtained to make thin sections of hematoxylin-eosin and NADH. Blood samples were collected for making assays of biochemical parameters (creatinine; potassium; DHL; leukogram; venous pH; CK). Results: The myeloperoxidase levels were raised in the reperfusion (p < 0.001) and ICAM-1 (p < 0.019) groups in relation to the control group. The oxidative activity of the muscle fibers was significantly raised in the groups that underwent reperfusion. The other parameters did not present significant differences. Conclusions: The reperfusion lesion was bigger than the ischemic lesion. There was an increase in oxidative activity and inflammatory infiltrate with the reperfusion, without significant muscle necrosis being seen under the optical microscope. The blockage of ICAM-1 diminished the inflammatory infiltrate but not the rise in oxidative activity observed with the reperfusion.