Skin blood flow response to topically applied methyl nicotinate: Possible mechanisms.
BACKGROUND
Methyl nicotinate (MN) induces a local cutaneous erythema in the skin and may be valuable as a local provocation in the assessment of microcirculation and skin viability. The mechanisms through which MN mediates its vascular effect are not fully known. The aim of this study was to characterize the vasodilatory effects of topically applied MN and to study the involvement of nitric oxide (NO), local sensory nerves, and prostaglandin-mediated pathways.


METHODS
MN was applied on the skin of healthy subjects in which NO-mediated (L-NMMA), nerve-mediated (lidocaine/prilocaine), and cyclooxygenase-mediated (NSAID) pathways were selectively inhibited. Microvascular responses in the skin were measured using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI).


RESULTS
NSAID reduced the MN-induced perfusion increase with 82% (P < .01), whereas lidocaine/prilocaine reduced it with 32% (P < .01). L-NMMA did not affect the microvascular response to MN.


CONCLUSION
The prostaglandin pathway and local sensory nerves are involved in the vasodilatory actions of MN in the skin.
['Elawa|Sherif|S|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6804-7708', 'Mirdell|Robin|R|', 'Farnebo|Simon|S|', 'Tesselaar|Erik|E|']
D000287:Administration, Topical D000328:Adult D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal D016022:Case-Control Studies D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007478:Iontophoresis D008297:Male D008833:Microcirculation D009475:Neurons, Afferent D009539:Nicotinic Acids D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase D011453:Prostaglandins D012039:Regional Blood Flow D012867:Skin D014022:Tissue Survival D014664:Vasodilation D014803:Vitamin B Complex
methyl nicotinate microcirculation laser speckle contrast imaging capillary capacity tissue viability