Evidence is presented which implicates increased oxygen free radicals during ischemia-reperfusion of gerbil brain. Salicylate, which reacts with hydroxyl free radicals to yield dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA), was used as an in vivo trap. Brain ischemia for at least 5 min followed by reperfusion yielded significantly increased brain DHBA. Without reperfusion or with only 2 min of ischemia and then reperfusion, the production of DHBA was not increased. Increased levels of DHBA in brain correlated with ischemia reperfusion-mediated behavioral modification of gerbils, but salicylate administration did not protect against the behavior changes.

Oxygen free radical involvement in ischemia and reperfusion injury to brain