title: Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors improve skin flap survival in the rat.
abstract: The ability of nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitors to reduce ischemia-induced skin flap necrosis was assessed using a modified McFarlane flap in the rat. Flap survival was significantly improved in L-NIO treated (86 +/- 2%), L-NAME-treated (84 +/- 2%), and aminoguanidine-treated (76 +/- 2%) animals compared to the saline-treated group (54 +/- 2%), P < 0.005. Inhibition of NO synthase significantly decreased the hyperemia and edema within the flaps at 24 hours post-elevation. These findings suggest that endogenous NO production contributes to ischemic necrosis and that inhibition of NO synthase may prove useful in extending survival of tissues subjected to ischemia.
authors.affiliation: Microsurgery Research Centre, St. Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006146:Guanidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009952:Ornithine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013524:Surgical Flaps
chemical_list: D006146:Guanidines; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C065027:N(G)-iminoethylornithine; D001120:Arginine; D009952:Ornithine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase; C004479:pimagedine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester