The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidative enzymes (Superoxide Dismutase-SOD, Glutathione Peroxidase-GSH-Px, Catalase-CAT) levels in erythrocytes of rats with experimentally cardiac ischemia reperfusion injury. Additionally the effect of the aminoguanidin (AG), an antioxidant was assessed in the prevention of ischemia reperfusion.

A total of 36 rats divided equally into 4 groups were used in the study. Groups were defined as sham, ischemia- reperfusion (I/R), aminoguanidin treated group before the ischemia (I/ AG), and aminoguanidin treated group before reperfusion (R/ AG).

There was a statistically significant decrease in the erythrocyte SOD and GSH-Px activities except for CAT activities in ischemia reperfusion group when compared with sham group (p<0.05). Erythrocyte CAT activities of ischemia reperfusion group were increased when compared with sham group . In aminoguanidin receiving groups , especially in I/AG group rather than R/AG showed significant increase in the activities of SOD and GSH-Px in respect to I/R group (p<0.05). Erythrocyte CAT activities of I/ AG group were increased when compared with R/ AG group. An increase in erythrocyte SOD and GSH-Px activity in R/ AG group was observed in comparison to I/R group.

In conclusion, aminoguanidin was found to increase antioxidant activity and had cardioprotective effects for prevention of cardiac ischemia reperfusion injury.