Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 in the muscle flap with ischemic injury in rats.
BACKGROUND
Ischemia of muscle flaps is a significant problem in reconstructive surgery. Administration of either recombinant vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) protein or gene transfers has been conducted to improve the survival of ischemic tissue. These biophysiological functions of VEGF are mediated through its receptor. In this study the changes of expression in VEGF receptor mRNA in muscle flaps with acute ischemia were examined in a rat gracilis muscle flap model.


METHODS
Twenty-four Sprague Dawley rats were used. The ischemia of the flap was induced by clamping its vascular pedicle. At 3-, 6-, and 18-h intervals, the flaps were biopsied for histology and examination of VEGFR-2 mRNA gene expression. The muscle flap without ischemia was used as the control.


RESULTS
The results showed that the VEGFR-2 mRNA level was significantly increased 3 h after ischemia was induced and then attenuated to the baseline at 6 and 18 h ischemia.


CONCLUSIONS
This study delineated the changes in expression of VEGFR-2 receptor in muscle flap in several postischemic intervals and provided a timeframe for the clinical application of VEGF.
Chen
Weijia
W
Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216, USA.
Zhang
Feng
F
Chen
Michael B
MB
Lineaweaver
William C
WC
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013997:Time Factors; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000235:genetics*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2