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The Effect of Remote Ischemic Conditioning on Bubble Formation in a Decompression Sick Rat Model
Author(s) -
Schmidt Nikolaj,
Hansen Kasper,
Pedersen Michael
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.678.16
Subject(s) - decompression sickness , decompression , medicine , ischemia , anesthesia , kidney , lung , rat model , surgery
Decompression sickness (DCS) is a disabling and potentially lethal condition where bubbles nucleate from supersaturated tissues during rapid decompression. These bubbles may obstruct end arteries and thereby induce ischemia and subsequent necrosis. Remote ischemic conditioning (rIC) has been proven to attenuate ischemia‐reperfusion injuries in the brain, heart, and after kidney transplantations. Objective To evaluate if rIC is associated with reduced damage in rats subjected to DCS. Method 41 female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to rIC prior to (pre‐rIC; n=10) or after (per‐rIC; n=20) pressurization. A group of sham‐dive rats (n=11) was used as control. All groups were pressurized to 6 ATA (45 min) with subsequent decompression (0.5 ATA/min). rIC was performed with a custom made tourniquet strapped around one hind leg, accomplished by a series repeated 4 times: 5 min of ischemia followed by 5 min of reperfusion. DCS was evaluated with microultrasound imaging of the pulmonary artery for 2 hrs 20 min after decompression. Two days after the experimental procedure the brains were removed and histologically examined with 2,3,5‐triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) to evaluate size of brain infarcted areas. Results Microultrasound imaging showed no significant change in formation of nucleated bubbles in both pre‐ and per‐rIC treated groups compared to the control group. Similarly, TTC‐staining of the brain did not seem to indicate any differences between the groups. Conclusion The lack of reduced bubble formation and brain damage in pre‐ or per‐rIC groups indicate that the rIC procedure was insufficient to treat DCS. Future studies are required to reveal the systemic response of rIC and its possible use in DCS treatment.