Sixteen Sprague Dawley type rats were divided into two groups. In grup A ( n=8 ) control grup, abdomen was opened and abdominal aorta was explored, and then basal lung MDA and GSH levels were measured. In Grup B (n=8), abdominal aorta was clamped for 45 minutes, then reperfused. In this grup rats were sacrified after 48 hours and their lungs were taken for MDA and GSH analysis. In study group, Statistically significant high MDA levels and in control group statistically low GSH levels means that after acute lower limb ischemia, free oxygen radicals within the lungs were increased and glutathion level, as a protective mechanism, was decreased.
In conclusion, with lower limb I / R injury, free oxygen radical system mediates the pathological changes within lungs beside the other factors.