The effect of melatonin on a dorsal skin flap model.
BACKGROUND
Melatonin (Mel) has a very potent antioxidant activity, depending mainly on its capacity to act as an electron donor. Recently, the antioxidant property of Mel has been much emphasized. In this study, the dorsal skin flap model was used to investigate the effect of Mel in flap viability in rats.


METHODS
Totally 28 Wistar Albino rats were divided into four groups: control group (C) (n = 7), local treatment group (L) (n = 7), systemic low-dose melatonin treatment group (LT) (n = 7), and systemic high-dose melatonin treatment group (HT) (n = 7). The necrosis rate of the skin flaps was observed seven days after the operation by a blinded observer. Oxidative stress was assessed by determining malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and effects of melatonin on antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured. Vascularity, epithelial thickness, and fibroblast proliferation of dorsal skin flaps were assessed histologically.


RESULTS
Amount of MDA were found significantly lower (p < .05), and the flap viability, CAT, SOD, vascularity, fibroblast proliferation, and epithelial thickness were found significantly higher (p < .05) in groups HT than in groups C, L, and LT statistically.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed that the usage on different doses of melatonin could play an important role in the process of flap viability and further studies will focus on these areas of interest.
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Celal Bayar University , Manisa , Turkey.
Hakan
H
Kerem
Ovunc
O
Akdemır
Utku
U
Ates
Yigit
Y
Uyanıkgıl
Ebru
E
Demırel Sezer
Ufuk
U
Bılkay
Mehmet
M
Turgut
Eser
E
Sozmen
Ecmel
E
Songur
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D009336:Necrosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*
D000975:Antioxidants; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D008550:Melatonin