Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2008 Oct;69(5):449-58.
doi: 10.1016/j.curtheres.2008.10.001.

Effects of nebivolol on skin flap survival: A randomized experimental study in rats

Kaan Gideroglu  1 , Sahin Alagoz  2 , Fatih Uygur  3 , Rahmi Evinc  3 , Bahattin Celikoz  3 , Guler Bugdayci  4
Affiliations

Effects of nebivolol on skin flap survival: A randomized experimental study in rats

Kaan Gideroglu et al. Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2008 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Skin flaps are among the basic treatment options in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects. To improve skin flap survival, a variety of methods, including pharmacologic agents, have been investigated. The effectiveness of anticoagulants, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory drugs, and vasodilatory drugs in improving flap survival has been studied. Nebivolol is a new-generation selective β1-adrenoreceptor blocking agent that has vasodilatory, antithrombotic, antioxidative, and anti- inflammatory effects.

Objective: The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of nebivolol (50 mg/kg/d) on random pattern skin flap survival in rats.

Methods: Male Wistar rats weighing 290 to 310 g were randomly divided into 2 groups-the nebivolol group and the control group. Random patterned, caudally-based, ~3 × 10-cm skin flaps were elevated on the back of each rat. In the nebivolol group, nebivolol 50 mg/kg/d (1 mL, of a racemic solution of nebivolol) was administered orally 2 days before surgery to reach steady-state drug blood concentrations and was continued for 6 days. In the control group, 1 mL/d of sterile saline solution was orally administered 2 days before surgery and was continued for 6 days. To observe the effects of nebivolol, cutaneous blood flow was examined using a laser Doppler flow-meter before and after surgery on days 1, 3, 5, and 7, and flap tissue, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) concentrations, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured 7 days postsurgery. Flap viability was evaluated 7 days after surgery by measuring necrotic flap area and total flap area.

Results: All 20 rats (nebivolol group, n = 10; control group, n = 10) survived throughout the study period. Mean (SD) MDA concentration was significantly lower in the nebivolol group than in the control group (69.25 [5.82] vs 77.67 [6.87] nmol/g tissue; P = 0.009). GSH concentration was significantly higher in the nebivolol group than in the control group (2.14 [0.15] vs 1.88 [0.22] nmol/mg tissue; P = 0.004). SOD activity was significantly greater in the nebivolol group than in the control group (49.28 [5.49] vs 42.09 [4.95] U/g tissue; P = 0.007). The percentage of the flap that was necrotic was significantly lower in the nebivolol group than in the control group (40.27 [4.08] vs 48.87 [6.35]; P = 0.007).

Conclusions: This small, experimental, in vivo animal study found that nebivolol was associated with reduced necrotic random pattern skin flap area. Further studies are needed to clarify these findings.

Keywords: cutaneous blood flow; nebivolol; skin flap survival.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Törkvist L, Löfberg R, Raud J, Thorlacius H. Heparin protects against skin flap necrosis: Relationship to neutrophil recruitment and anti-coagulant activity. Inflamm Res. 2004;53:1–3. - PubMed
    1. Akan M, Cakir B, Misirlioglû A. Effects of clopidogrel and high dose aspirin on survival of skin flaps in rats. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg. 2005;39:7–10. - PubMed
    1. Cetin C, Köse AA, Aral E. Protective effect of fucoidin (a neutrophil rolling inhibitor) on ischemia reperfusion injury: Experimental study in rat epigastric island flaps. Ann Plast surg. 2001;47:540–546. - PubMed
    1. Gute DC, Ishida T, Yarimizu K, Korthuis RJ. Inflammatory responses to ischemia and reperfusion in skeletal muscle. Mol Cell Biochem. 1998;179:169–187. - PubMed
    1. Lee C, Kerrigan CL, Tellado JM. Altered neutrophil function following reperfusion of an ischemic myocutaneous flap. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1992;89:916–923. - PubMed