Preservative effects of trehalose on rat muscle flaps

In this experiment, the effect of trehalose on the preservation of rat gracilis muscle flaps was studied. The muscle flaps were preserved in 4 degrees C Euro-Collins solution or 4 degrees C trehalose-Euro-Collins solution for 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, and then replanted in the same rats using microsurgical techniques. Immediately after preservation and 1 week after replantation, the levels of adenosine triphosphate and creatine phosphate in flaps preserved in the trehalose-Euro-Collins solution were significantly higher than those in flaps preserved in the Euro-Collins solution. In the 4 degrees C Euro-Collins solution group 1 week after replantation, focal necrosis, hyaline degeneration, and proliferation of fibroblasts were seen after 12 hours of preservation, and, after 48 hours of preservation, there were no surviving flaps. In the 4 degrees C trehalose-Euro-Collins group, focal necrosis, hyaline degeneration, and proliferation of fibroblasts were seen only after 24 hours of preservation, and, after 96 hours of preservation, two of eight flaps survived. These findings indicate that trehalose was effective in the preservation of muscle flaps.