title: [Exploration of the mechanism of skin expansion].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to explore the mechanism of skin expansion technique (SET).
  
  
  METHODS
  Domestic dogs were used in this experiment. The epidermal mitotic activity, capillary blood flow change of the expanded flap were observed with microspectrophotometer and radioactive microsphere technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1. The epidermis of expanded skin was significantly thicker than that of other groups (P < 0.05). 2. The epidermal mitotic activity was elevated significantly(P < 0.01). 3. The capillary blood flow of expanded flaps increased significantly (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. The surplus skin produced by SET is the result of replication, not compensation. 2. SET increases skin blood flow, therefore enlarges the survival area of an expanded flap.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Aestetic Surgery, General Hospital, Jinan Military Region of People's Libration Army, Jinan 250031, PR China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004285:Dogs; D008833:Microcirculation; D008940:Mitotic Index; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D015626:Tissue Expansion
chemical_list: D004247:DNA