Purpose: Assess the effect of the local administration of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) by iontophoresis on the viability of random skin flap in rats. Methods: Sixty Wistar-EPM 1 rats were submitted to dorsal skin flap of cranial base 10 x 4 cm with interposition of a plastic barrier between the skin flap and the donnor site. The animals were randomly distributed in four groups (n = 15 in each group) and were treated as follows: in group 1 (control), animals were submitted to a simulation of electrical current for 20 minutes; group 2, (iontophoresis placebo) animals were submitted to direct current of 4mA amplitude for 20 minutes; group 3 (absorption control) receive simulation of electrical current for 20 minutes with CGRP on one of the electrodes; group 4 (iontophoretically treated) treated by iontophoresis with CGRP. In all groups the procedures were performed immediately after the surgery and the two subsequent days. Results: The percentage of the necrosis area was calculated in all groups on the seventh postoperative day and results were as follows: group 1- 48%; group 2 - 51%; group 3 - 46% and group 4 - 28%. The statistical analysis presented significant difference when the comparison of group 4 to the other groups. Conclusion: The topical administration of the CGRP by iontophoresis is efficient to increase the viability of the random skin flap random in rats.
Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Surgical Flaps; Iontophoresis; Rats
