Microvascular in vivo assessment of reperfusion injury: significance of prostaglandin E1 and I2 in postischemic “no-reflow” and “reflow-paradox”

Microvascular ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is characterized by failure of capillary perfusion ("no-reflow") and reoxygenation-associated phenomena ("reflow-paradox"), including activation of leukocyte-endothelium interaction with cytotoxic mediator-induced loss of endothelial integrity. The objectives of this study were to elucidate the impact of both prostaglandins E(1) (PGE(1)) and I(2) (PGI(2)) in microvascular reperfusion injury, with special focus on the distinct pathophysiology of no-reflow- and reflow-paradox phenomena.By use of the hamster dorsal skinfold preparation and in vivo fluorescence microscopy, the microcirculation of a striated skin muscle was assessed before 4 h of p…