Limb compression induces multi-system genetic damage in rats.

Muscle crush injury is a common trauma in the modern society after as a result of mass disasters after penetration into muscle by high-velocity projectiles, blunt external trauma, or by gravity during prolonged immobilization in comatose patients after head trauma, alcoholic or drug overdose. However, the underlying mechanisms linking these alterations are still not fully understood, especially in acute phase. The aim of this study was to analyze genomic instability in multiple organs of rats after acute muscle injury by means of single cell gel (comet) assay. Rats were randomly distributed into three groups (n=6 each group): control group and experimental groups: sacrificed 6h as 12h after muscle compression. These results indicate genetic damage in peripheral blood cells as depicted by tail moment results. DNA breakage was also detected in liver, lung and kidney cells after acute muscle injury for two times evaluated. Heart cells showed genetic damage after 12h following muscle compression. Taken together, our results suggest that acute muscle injury induces genomic damage in multiple organs of Wistar rats. This novel finding offers new insights into the underlying mechanisms of the relationship between acute crush muscle injury and clinical manifestations that can occur during limb compression.