Analysis of nitric oxide activity in prevention of reperfusion injury.
This project was designed to determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the prevention of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Inferiorly based rectus abdominis muscle flaps were elevated in pigs and subjected to 6 hours of ischemia followed by 4 hours of reperfusion. Group I animals received a bolus of L-arginine before reperfusion, and a continuous infusion once flow was restored. Group II animals served as controls and received an equal volume of saline as a bolus and subsequent continuous infusion. Microdialysis was used to measure tissue NO levels, and these were correlated with muscle survival determined by vital staining with nitroblue tetrazolium. The results demonstrated a significant increase in tissue NO levels in L-arginine-supplemented animals (p < 0.05), which in turn correlated with a significant increase in muscle survival (p = 0.0051). These results suggest that administration of supplemental L-arginine to ischemic skeletal muscle during reperfusion results in increased NO production and decreased tissue damage.
Lovett
J E
JE
Chandler Medical Center, University of Kentucky, Department of Surgery, Lexington,  USA.
Fink
B F
BF
Bernard
A
A
Ochoa
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007511:Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism; D017551:Microdialysis; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D013552:Swine
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine