title: Effects of growth factors and L-arginine on ischemic skin flaps in rats.
abstract: This study determined the effect of the polypeptide growth factors transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and growth hormone (GH) alone and in combination with dietary L-Arginine HCL (ARG) on skin flap survival in rats. Caudally based dorsal skin flaps were created in 110 Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were randomly assigned into three treatment groups, based on drinking water supplementation. Group 1 (n = 50) received ARG in their drinking water, group 2 (n = 50) received tap water alone, and group 3 (n = 10) received N-omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA) and hydralazine. Groups 1 and 2 were divided into subgroups of 10 rats each based on treatment with either: TGF-beta, IGF-I, GH, or IGF-I + GH. All subgroups that received GH had significantly greater (P < .0001) median body weight gains when compared with subgroups not receiving GH. L-arginine HCL when added to IGF-I negated the positive effects of IGF-I on both flap survival and weight gain. Although the rats in all subgroups from groups 1 and 2 had an increase in mean percent skin flap survival when compared with the water alone subgroup, only rats receiving IGF-I, or the combination of ARG with either TGF-beta or GH, had statistically significant enhanced skin flap survival. Rats in group 3 did not show an increase in skin flap survival when compared with the control subgroup.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of California, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis 95616-8745, USA.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Walls
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Griffey
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Kass
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006085:Graft Survival; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007511:Ischemia / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone; D001120:Arginine