Apocynin and dimethyl sulfoxide synergistically protect against ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat hind limb ischemia-reperfusion model

Background: Acute ischemia and reperfusion in extremities ignite a complicated inflammatory cycle and lead to damage in the extremities and target tissues. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into four groups. Each experimental group contained eight rats. Group 1 was the sham surgery group. Group 2 was the control I/R group with intraperitoneal serum physiologic (SP) treatment. Group 3 was the I/R group with vehicle treatment (8% DMSO). Group 4 was the I/R group with 20 mg/kg apocynin (vehicle 8% DMSO). The potential protective effects of apocynin and vehicle (DMSO) in the rat hind limb ischemia-reperfusion model were evaluated by measuring the levels of plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers in muscle tissue. Results: The results revealed that both apocynin and vehicle (DMSO) alone increased the antioxidative capacity of ischemic tissue and reduced the levels of plasma proinflammatory cytokines compared to control I/R group. There was a statically more significant effect in the apocynin (vehicle 8% DMSO)-treated group 4. Conclusions: We observed that apocynin and DMSO synergistically prevent the I/R injury in rat hind limb ischemia-reperfusion injury model and meaningfully decrease the inflammatory parameters. Level of Evidence: Not ratable. © 2017, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.