Analysis of effect isoxsuprine hydrochloride and nicotine in the Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous flap (TRAM) in rats

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of isoxsuprine and nicotine on TRAM. METHODS: Forty eight 48 Wistar rats distributed into four Groups (n=12). All rats received medication managed daily for 20 days: saline solution (SA), nicotine solution (NI), isoxsuprine solution (IS) and nicotine solution (NI) + isoxsuprine solution (IS). On day 21st the rats were submitted to the caudally based, right unipedicled TRAM flap and after 48 hours, made the macroscopic evaluation of the surface of the flap, photographic documentation and collection of material for histology. Data from macroscopic evaluation were analyzed by ANOVA and microscopic evaluation by Kruskal-Wallis test, with significance level of 5%. RESULTS: In the macroscopic evaluation of isoxsuprine Group retail presented absolute numbers: final area (p=0.001*) and viable area (p=0.006*) with the highest values; necrosis (p=0.001*) had the lowest value. Microscopic examination revealed no significant findings in the study of TRAM under the action of isoxsuprine and nicotine to the percentage of necrosis in the left and right cranial and caudal regions. CONCLUSIONS: There was significant improvement in viability of TRAM using the isoxsuprine solution alone. No influence using nicotine alone and in association with isoxsuprine. .

Histological modification in TRAM flap in rats treated with pentoxifylline

PURPOSE: To investigate the blood vessels' concentration in TRAM flap's rat model, in the presence of pentoxifylline. METHODS: 32 male, Wistar-EPM rats were divided into two groups. Control group (C): 0.5 ml of saline, intraperitoneally, once a day, for seven days before flap elevation; PTX group (P): pentoxifylline (20mg/kg/day), intraperitoneally, for seven days before flap elevation. After that, they were submitted to a caudal unipedicle TRAM flap. On the fifth postoperative day, percentages of flap necrosis were determined via the "paper template" method and Tram flap's zone IV skin biopsies were taken for histological analysis. RESULTS: the mean percentage of flap necrosis in group C was 58.7 % and in group P, 31.1 (Wilcoxon test; p = 0.003). Mean capillary vessels number in zone IV's skin in C group was 33.4 and in P group was 71.9 (p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Pentoxifylline was effective reducing the necrosis in the caudal unipedicle TRAM flap in the rat as well as increasing the number of capillaries in an ischemic zone (zone IV). .

Pharmacological evaluation of muscle relaxant potency of mivacurium chloride against standard non-depolarizing muscle relaxant D. tubocurarin

The study was designed to evaluate potency of neuromuscular blocking activity of mivacurium chloride on the preparation of isolated frog's rectus abdominis muscle in contrast to that of the standard non - depolarizing muscle relaxant d- tubocurarin. The contractile response of the muscle was recorded in response to Acetylcholine [0.1 microg / ml] followed by addition of mivacurium to the bath Fluid and d- tubocurarin in a logarithmic increasing doses [1 mic/ ml- 16 mic/ml]. The percentage of inhibition by d-tubocurarin was more marked than that of mivacurium

Effects of diltiazem on calcium ion translocation: a study on isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle.

Diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker was studied to observe its effects on the acetylcholine contractile responses of isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle. This response was modified in a dual manner i.e., initial potentiation, followed by inhibition. Diltiazem may not have anticholinesterase like mechanism, as it potentiated the responses to both acetylcholine and succinylcholine. Rectus muscle preparation, incubated in calcium free frog Ringer, showed dose dependent inhibition of acetylcholine contractile responses by diltiazem. The study suggests that diltiazem inhibits calcium ion influx across receptor operated calcium channels and may also inhibit calcium ion release from intracellular structures.