title: Acute effects of nicotine and smoking on blood flow, tissue oxygen, and aerobe metabolism of the skin and subcutis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nicotine released from tobacco smoke causing reduction in blood flow has been suggested as causative for postoperative wound complications in smokers, but the mechanism remains unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  In eight healthy male smokers and eight ex-smokers, the cutaneous and subcutaneous blood flow (QBF, SqBF) was assessed by Laser Doppler and 133Xe clearance. Tissue oxygen tension (TO(2)) was measured by a LICOX O(2)-electrode. Tissue glucose and lactate (Tgluc, Tlact) were assessed by microdialysis. The parameters were studied after intravenous infusion of 1.0 mg nicotine, smoking of one cigarette, arterial occlusion, and reperfusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nicotine infusion decreased SqBF from 4.2 +/- 2.0 to 3.1 +/- 1.2 mL/100 g tissue/min (P < 0.01), whereas QBF was 21.7 +/- 8.6 and 22.7 +/- 9.6 Arbitrary Units (AU), respectively (P = 0.21). TO(2) increased from 49.3 +/- 12.0 to 53.9 +/- 12.0 mm Hg (P = 0.01). Tgluc and Tlact remained unaffected. Smoking decreased SqBF from 4.2 +/- 2.0 to 2.7 +/- 1.2 mL/100 g tissue/min (P < 0.01). QBF decreased from 23.4 +/- 9.2 to 20.3 +/- 7.4 AU (P < 0.01), and TO(2) decreased from 53.9 +/- 12.0 to 48.4 +/- 11.1 mm Hg (P < 0.01). Following smoking, Tgluc decreased from 0.7 +/- 0.1 to 0.6 +/- 0.1 ng/mL (P < 0.01), and Tlact increased from 0.2 +/- 0.1 to 0.3 +/- 0.2 ng/mL (P < 0.01). The observed alterations were similar in smokers and ex-smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nicotine has a limited vasoactive effect in the skin and subcutis unlikely to be explained by smoking, which distinctly decreases tissue blood flow, oxygen tension, and aerobe metabolism independent of smoking status.
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Wound Healing Center, Department of Surgery, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. lts@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Lars Tue
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: Stig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Lars J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hemmingsen
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bülow
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loft
authors.forename: Finn
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gottrup
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000332:Aerobiosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003367:Cotinine / Q000097:blood; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates; D009538:Nicotine; D005947:Glucose; D003367:Cotinine; D010100:Oxygen