Free radical scavengers to prevent reperfusion injury following experimental warm liver ischaemia. Is there a real physiological benefit?

Free radical scavengers have been utilized to prevent the consequences of ischemia, however, results do not seem conclusive. In our study we analyzed the blood flow, function, and histology of rat liver tissue after warm liver ischemia, in order to assess the effect of free radicals in liver reperfusion injury. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), tocopherol, allopurinol, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), pharmacological agents expected to protect from injury mediated by free radicals, were investigated.