Ischemic preconditioning versus intermittent reperfusion to improve blood flow to a vascular isolated skeletal muscle flap of rats.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether intermittent restoration of blood flow just before reperfusion after ischemia could create beneficial effects similar to ischemic preconditioning, which involves intermittent stoppage of blood flow just before ischemia.


METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were prepared with vascular isolated cremaster muscles, then subjected to 4 hours of ischemia and 60 minutes of reperfusion. Arteriole diameters and capillary perfusion were measured by using intravital microscopy. Four groups were used: (1) untreated, (2) ischemic preconditioning (IP), (3) intermittent reperfusion (IR), and (4) ischemic preconditioning plus intermittent reperfusion (IP+IR).


RESULTS
Our results showed that IP significantly attenuated both ischemia/reperfusion-induced vasospasm and capillary noreflow. IR was effective in attenuating vasospasm in terminal arterioles. However, IR alone was unable to significantly attenuate capillary no-reflow. Combining both IP and IR achieved the best results.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest both ischemic preconditioning and intermittent reperfusion are useful techniques for attenuating ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Wang
W Z
WZ
Center for Applied Microcirculatory Research, University of Louisville, and Christine M. Kleinert Institute for Hand and Micro Surgery, Kentucky 40292, USA. wzwang01@homer.louisville.edu
Anderson
G
G
Firrell
J C
JC
Tsai
T M
TM
D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019194:Ischemic Preconditioning / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015424:Reperfusion / Q000379:methods*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*