Abstract:To establish obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAHS) rat model by intermittent hypoxia(IH) and to observe the myocardial oxidative stress injury and changes after reoxygenation. Methods In this study,10 untreated rats were enrolled into control group (group A). Through 30-d IH, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome model was established in 30 rats. among which 10 rats had examination of venous blood and myocardial tissues just after model establishment (group B), 10 rats had reoxygenation immediately after model establishment (group C) and their venous blood and myocardial tissues were examined after 30-d normal feeding, still 10 rats had IH for additional 30 days (group D) before examination of their venous blood and myocardial tissues. The content of serum malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the activity of glutathione (GSH) in myocardial tissue were detected and compared between the groups. Results Compared with the group A, the serum MDA content increased, the serum SOD activity and the activity of glutathione(GSH) in myocardial tissue decreased in the group B ( p< 0.05); the indexes returned to normal in the group C (p > 0.05); however, in the group D, the myocardial GSH activity and the serum SOD activity were significantly decreased, and the serum MDA content was significantly increased ( p< 0.05). Conclusions Oxidative stress appears in OSAHS, and causes severe injury ofmyocardial tissue. Hypoxia can change MDA content, and SOD and GSH activity which will recover after reoxygenation. Hence, serum MDA content and SOD and GSH activity can reflect the severity of oxidative stress in myocardial tissues.