Monoclonal antibodies to adhesion molecules have been used in many trials t
o prevent ischemia-reperfusion injury. Sulfatide reacts strongly with P- an
d L-selectin, which play an important role in the initiation of neutrophil-
endothelial interactions occurring in injured or inflamed tissues. The purp
ose of this study was to evaluate the effect of sulfatide on ischemia-reper
fusion injury of the rat skin flap. Sulfatide was administered intravenousl
y just before elevation of the right abdominal epigastric flap. The femoral
artery and vein were clamped above and below the epigastric vessels for 10
or 11 h and then the clamp was released. Administration of sulfatide augme
nted significantly the flap area surviving in the 10-h ischemic model (7.18
+/- 0.47 cm(2) versus control 5.15 +/- 0.39 cm(2). P = 0.01). In the 11-h
ischemic model the area was 4.59 +/- 0.36 cm(2) versus control 1.73 +/- 0.3
1 cm(2) (P = 0.001). The ATP levels in the flap gradually increased after r
elease of the clamp in the rat administered sulfatide, and the increase was
significant at 48 h (P = 0.006), Histological examination 48 h after surge
ry showed greater leukocyte invasion into the control flap than into the fl
ap of the rat administered sulfatide, Myeloperoxidase activity was signific
antly reduced 48 h after reperfusion in the 11-h ischemic model. This study
indicates that sulfatide has a significant protective effect against ische
mia and reperfusion in rat epigastric flaps. (C) 1998 Academic Press.