Effects of liposome-mediated gene transfer of VEGF in ischemic rat gracilis muscle.
The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on muscle flap survival and vascularity in a rat gracilis ischemia-reperfusion model. A total of 12 adult male Wistar rats were divided into two groups (n = 6). The experimental group received the plasmid encoding VEGF(165) cDNA plus lipofectamine (cationic liposome) injected directly to the gracilis muscle following 4 h of ischemia. The control group received lipofectamine only. The viability and vascularity of the flaps were evaluated after 7 days of reperfusion. The data demonstrated that the VEGF plasmid- and lipofectamine-treated muscle flaps had significantly greater total survival and capillary count 7 days after reperfusion compared with the flaps treated only with lipofectamine. These results indicate that VEGF exerts a protective effect on ischemic skeletal muscle flaps.
Neumeister
M W
MW
Institute for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Southern Illinois University, School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois 62794-9653, USA. mneumeister@siumed.edu
Song
Y H
YH
Mowlavi
A
A
Suchy
H
H
Mathur
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002411:Cation Exchange Resins; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006614:Hindlimb; D007511:Ischemia / Q000628:therapy*; D008055:Lipids; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply*; D010957:Plasmids; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D002411:Cation Exchange Resins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008055:Lipids; C086724:Lipofectamine; D008222:Lymphokines; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors