Abstract
The reinnervation of rat groin island flaps and microneurovascular flaps was investigated. The nerve trunk leading to the flap was transsected in all rats and the nerve ends were either resutured or ligated. Sensory and adrenergic reinnervation of the flaps was studied semiquantitatively after 20 weeks using specific antisera for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) as a marker for sensory nerves, neuropeptide Y (NPY) for adrenergic nerves and Protein Gene Product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) as a general neuronal marker. The reinnervation of island groin flaps was compared to that in corresponding microneurovascular flaps. The nerve suture clearly increased both sensory and adrenergic reinnervation. In island flaps the reinnervation was good throughout the flap, whereas in microsurgical flaps the reinnervation pattern was more sparse and patchier. Evidently the cause for this was circulatory disorders and the reperfusion injury which takes place after the ischemic period in microsurgical flaps.
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