title: Effect of adenovirus-mediated gene transfection of vascular endothelial growth factor on survival of random flaps in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of local application of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) via adenovirus-mediated gene transfer on survival of full thickness flaps selected randomly in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 480-520 g were used in this study. A dorsal flap (8 cm x 2 cm) in full thickness with the pedicle located at the level of the iliac crest was designed. Then the rats received 1,012 pfu replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus carrying VEGF (AdCMV-VEGF group, n=10), 1,012 pfu recombinant beta-galactosidase adenovirus (AdCMV-Gal group, n=10) and 1 ml saline (saline group, n=10), respectively, in the distal two thirds of the proposed flap by means of subdermal injection at 8 different locations. Three days after treatment, the flaps were elevated as originally designed and sutured back in situ. The survival rate of the flaps was evaluated on day 7 after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survival rate of the flaps in the AdCMV-VEGF group increased significantly as compared with those of the AdCMV-Gal group (P<0.01) and the saline group (P<0.01). Immunohistochemical staining showed that VEGF was expressed in the survival flaps injected with AdCMV-VEGF. Histological analysis showed that more granulation tissues and angiogenesis were observed in the AdCMV-VEGF group than those in the AdCMV-Gal and the saline groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Local application of adenovirus-mediated VEGF165 cDNA may efficiently improve the survival of ischemic skin flaps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200011, China. cuileimd@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Fa-cheng
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yun-liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Wen-xiang
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014162:Transfection; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors