Is Phospholipid Degradation a Critical Event in Ischemia-and Reperfusion-Induced Damage?

Loss of phospholipids, either by enhanced hydrolysis or by impaired resynthesis, has been proposed as the cause of ischemia- and reperfusion-induced ruptures in the sarcolemma. Alternatively, if fracture of the sacrolemma were caused by physical forces, enhanced phospholipid degradation would be the epiphenomenon reflecting autolysis of irreversibly damaged cells.