Reactive oxygen species are a major cause of damage occurring in ischemic tissue after reperfusion. During reperfusion transitional metals such as iron are required for reactive oxygen species to mediate their major toxic effects. Xanthine oxidase is an important source of reactive oxygen species during ischemia-reperfusion injury, but not in all organs or species. Because cytochrome P450 enzymes are an important pulmonary source of superoxide anion (02) generation under basal conditions and during hyperoxia, and provide iron catalysts necessary for hydroxyl radical COH) formation and propagation of lipid peroxidation, we postulated that cytochrome P450 might have a potential role in mediating ischemia-reperfusion injury. In this report, we explored the role of cytochrome P450 enzymes in a rabbit model of reperfusion lung injury. The P450 inhibitors 8-methoxypsoralen, piperonyl butoxide, and cimetidine markedly decreased lung edema from transvascular fluid flux. Cimetidine prevented the reperfusion-related increase in lung microvascular permeability, as measured by movement of '25I-albumin from the vascular space into lung water and alveolar fluid. P450 inhibitors also prevented the increase in lung tissue levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive products in the model. P450 inhibitors did not block enhanced 0°generation by ischemic reperfused lungs, measured by in vivo reduction of succinylated ferricytochrome c in lung perfusate, but did prevent the increase in non-protein-bound low molecular weight chelates of iron after reperfusion. Thus, cytochrome P450 enzymes are not likely a major source of enhanced 05 generation, but serve as an important source of iron in mediating oxidant injury to the rabbit lung during reperfusion. These results suggest an important role of cytochrome P450 in reperfusion injury to the lung and suggest potential new therapies for the disorder. (J.