General reaction of an organism (survival, body temperature, hematocrit, glycemia) was followed in Mongolian gerbils subjected to isolated head injury (brain ischemia--LD5), to peripheral injury (ischemia of both hind limbs--LD20), and to combined injury (head injury + peripheral injury). In the early period (1 hour) after the injury, parameters of oxidative stress were followed in the brain cortex (superoxide anion, index of lipid peroxidation, activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase). Obtained results indicate that the combined peripheral and central injury of low lethality leads to the worsening of general response of the organism with high lethality of experimental animals (LD80). Likewise, the increased cortical production of superoxide anion and index of lipid peroxidation, as well as the disturbances of antioxidative enzymes activity suggest on an important role of brain oxidative stress in the development of the syndrome of mutual aggravation in animals subjected to combined injury.
Animals Body Temperature