THE EFFECT OF BERAPROST SODIUM ON THE SURVIVAL OF SUBCUTANEOUS TRANSFERRED JEJUNUM AFTER VASCULAR PEDICLE INTERRUPTION IN A RAT MODEL

Beraprost sodium, a stable PGI(2) analog, having antiplatelet aggregat ion and vasodilating actions, was tested in a rat subcutaneous heterot opic jejunal model for its ability to improve survival after vascular pedicle interruption. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: Group 1 (control, ligation of pedicle on postoperative day 5) ; Group 2 (Beraprost sodium, ligation on day 5); Group 3 (control, lig ation on day 7); and Group 4 (Beraprost sodium, ligation on day 7). Th e resulting viability rates were: Group 1 = 0 percent, Group 2 = 40 pe rcent, Group 3 = 30 percent, Group 4 = 90 percent. These results indic ate that the administration of Beraprost sodium facilitates the neovas cularization of the transferred intestine and shortens the time requir ed for viability of the transferred tissue, after interruption of the vascular pedicle.