[Effects of L-arginine on the microcirculation of rat island skin flaps after ischemia- reperfusion].
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.
Chen
Jing
J
Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Union Medical University, Beijing 100041, China. Chenjing_168@tom.com
Zhuang
Hong-xin
HX
Han
Juan
J
Zhao
Yang-yong
YY
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
D001120:Arginine