Involvement of reactive oxygen species in post-ischaemic flap necrosis and its prevention by antioxidants

Abstract

In attempts to substantiate the possible participation of reactive oxygen species, and the significance of the xanthine oxidase system in both post-ischaemic reperfusion necrosis of the island flap and distal necrosis of the pedicle flap, and to develop new pharmacological measures for salvaging flap necrosis, a series of experiments were made using an island flap model and a random-pattern flap model in rats. The results were as follows: (1) Epoxysuccinyl derivative (E-64c), allopurinol and L-SOD salvaged post-ischaemic reperfusion necrosis of the island flaps; (2) E-64c and allopurinol did not salvage anticipated necrosis of the distal region of random flaps but L-SOD did; (3) tissue SOD activity did not reflect the fate of the island flap, but did of the distal region of the random flap. These results demonstrated a possible involvement of ROS in both post-ischaemic necrosis of island flaps and distal necrosis of random flaps. However, xanthine oxidase was significant in producing ROS only in the former.