[Studies on enhancement of transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap survival by recombinant adenovirus mediated vascular endothelial growth factor 165 gene].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the enhancement of the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap survival in local ischemic area by recombinant adenovirus mediated vascular endothelial growth factor 165 gene (Ad-VEGF165).


METHODS
The vascular pedicle TRAM flaps were made in the right abdomen of 30 SD rats and they were randomly divided into 5 groups. The Ad-VEGF165 was injected into the subcutaneous tissue of epigastria(group 1), the subcutaneous tissue of epigastria and rectus abdominis muscle (group 2), and the rectus abdominis muscle (group 3); Adenovirus mediated green fluorescent protein (Ad-GFP) and DMEM were injected into the subcutaneous tissue of epigastria and rectus abdominis muscle as auto-control (group 4) and blank control (group 5), respectively. The survival areas of TRAM flap was measured after 7 days of operation. The microvascular density (MVD) and the integral optical density (IOD) were tested with anti-rat CD34 and with VEGF immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH), respectively.


RESULTS
The survival areas of TRAM flap in groups 1, 2 and 3 (14.19 +/- 2.77, 15.18 +/- 2.18 and 8.30 +/- 1.28 cm2) were higher than those in groups 4 and 5(4.12 +/- 1.86 and 3.60 +/- 1.95 cm2), being significant differences (P < 0.05). The CD34 MVD of the TRAM flap in groups 1, 2 and 3 was higher than that in groups 4 and 5; the positive expression for VEGF and ISHH were shown in groups 1, 2 and 3 and there was significant difference when compared with groups 4 and 5 (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment by recombinant Ad-VEGF165 gene is an effective option for enhancement of the TRAM flap survival in the local ischemic area.
Wang
Lifu
L
Department of Plastic and Burn Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu Sichuan 610041, P R China.
Cen
Ying
Y
Xiao
Haitao
H
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A