title: [Effects of L-arginine on the microcirculation of rat island skin flaps after ischemia- reperfusion].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of L-arginine on the microcirculation and survival of rat island skin flaps after ischemia-reperfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A right lower abdominal island flap was created in SD rats and the microcirculatory blood flow in these flaps measured with laser Doppler velocimetry following L-arginine injection via the contralateral femoral artery. Both NO and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the flaps were assayed and the survival of the flaps replanted in situ was evaluated 1 week later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  L-arginine treatment caused increase in the microcirculatory blood flow of the flaps and elevation of NO while and decrease of MDA levels. The survival rate of the flaps with L-arginine treatment was significantly higher than the flaps from saline-treated and normal rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  L-arginine can improve the survival of island flap through increasing the microcirculatory blood flow and lessening ischemia-reperfusion injury of the flaps.
authors: Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Union Medical University, Beijing 100041, China. Chenjing_168@tom.com
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Hong-xin
authors: HX
authors: Zhuang
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Han
authors: Yang-yong
authors: YY
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013524:Surgical Flaps
chemical_list: D001120:Arginine