Preconditioning of the rat random-pattern skin flap: modulation by opioids

Local administration of morphine in higher doses (1 and 5 mg/flap) significantly reduced the amount of flap necrosis when compared to that of the control cohort (P<0.05). Naloxone abolished this protective effect of morphine. Furthermore naloxone significantly decreased the anti-ischaemic effect of the IPC. Systemic administrations of morphine had no significant effect on flap survival area in compare with the control group.