ABSTRACT
The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of oxygenated perfluorochemical
perfusion on ischemia injury to skeletal muscle in rabbits. Forty-two hindlimbs of
white rabbits were divided into six groups: 3-hr perfusion; 6-hr perfusion; 3-hr hypothermia;
6-hr hypothermia; sham operation without perfusion or hypothermia preservation; and
biopsy. Endothelial cells in these muscles were evaluated using electron microphotography.
The areas of both the inner and outer sides of cross-sectioned endothelial cells without
cell nuclei were measured, and a new “capillary index” was calculated: (outer area
- inner area)/outer area. The values of the capillary index in the perfusion groups
were similar to those in the biopsy group. However, the values in the hypothermia
groups were significantly greater than those in the biopsy group. These measurements
suggested that the perfluorochemical perfusion method preserved the capillary endothelial
cells in a nearly normal condition. The adenine nucleotides of these muscles were
also evaluated. ATP levels in the 6-hr hypothermia group showed a substantial decrease
to 57 percent of those in the sham-operated group. The 6-hr perfusion group levels,
however, decreased only to 80 percent of those in the sham-operated group. Although
application of the oxygenated perfluorochemical perfusion method did not maintain
normal ATP levels, the maintenance of ATP levels was clearly higher than levels maintained
in the hypothermia-preservation group. These findings suggest that oxygenated perfluorochemical
perfusion is a satisfactory method for preserving amputated limbs.
