The spleen probably plays an important role in the lipid metabolism of female rats and total splenectomy may be related to changes in cholesterol control. It is possible that preservation of spleen tissue prevents such metabolic disorders.

PURPOSE: To investigate the microscopic changes in the rectus abdominis muscle in rats subjected to five delay procedure. METHODS: 30 male holtzmann rats, weighting between 250 and 350 grams, were used. The animals were divided into five groups (n=6): A - cranial section of the right muscle; B - caudal section of the right muscle; C - craniocaudal section of the right muscle; D - cranial section reflecting the right muscle in the craniocaudal direction; E - caudal section reflecting the right muscle in the caudocranial direction. On the seventh day after surgery, a resection of the cranial and caudal fragments of the right and left muscles, respectively, was performed for microscopic analysis. Histological alterations were quantified and the right and left (control) muscle fragments compared. Fisher's exact test was used for statistical purposes with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: The comparison between right and left muscles showed statistically significant differences in group A - inflammatory infiltrate in the cranial fragment (p=0.015); in group C - inflammatory infiltrate (p=0.000) and necrosis (p=0.015) in the caudal fragment; and in group E - edema in the caudal fragment (p=0.000). No significant alterations were noted in groups B and D. CONCLUSIONS: Irrigation exclusively through the perforating muscle vessels is inappropriate; irrigation exclusively through the cranial pedicle causes milder, insignificant histological alterations, when compared with irrigation exclusively through the caudal pedicle; irrigation exclusively through the caudal pedicle causes more pronounced, but still insignificant, histological alterations when compared with other forms of devascularization.

PURPOSE:To evaluate the effects of isoxsuprine and nicotine on TRAM. METHODS:Forty eight 48 Wistar rats distributed into four Groups (n=12). All rats received medication managed daily for 20 days: RESULTS:In the macroscopic evaluation of isoxsuprine Group retail presented absolute numbers: final area (p=0.001*) and viable area (p=0.006*) with the highest values; necrosis (p=0.001*) had the lowest value. Microscopic examination revealed no significant findings in the study of TRAM under the action of isoxsuprine and nicotine to the percentage of necrosis in the left and right cranial and caudal regions. CONCLUSIONS:There was significant improvement in viability of TRAM using the isoxsuprine solution alone. No influence using nicotine alone and in association with isoxsuprine.