[Effects on the survival of rat's abdominal axial skin flap after the combination of VEGF gene therapy and skin flap delay].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) gene therapy and skin flap delay on the survival of rat's abdominal axial skin flap.


METHODS
In 48 Wistar rats, the model of a abdominal axial skin flap supplied by right superficial epigastric vessel was created. The rats were divided into six groups. The group was treated with subcutaneous injection of pcDNA4-VEGF165, skin flap delay or VEGF injection combined with skin flap delay. 7 days later, the survival rate of the skin flap was measured; specimens were harvested from the skin flap for histological investigation of the microvessels and for immunohistochemical staining to observe the expression of VEGF.


RESULTS
Every treated group was significantly higher than blank group in the average survival rate of the skin flap and group V (gene injection when delayed) has the highest one. The average number of the microvessels in group II, III, V, VI was significantly higher than group IV and blank group. Group IV > group V, VI > group II, III > blank group in lumen diameter of the microvessels. Immunohistochemical staining documented more deposition of VEGF DNA in group II, III, V, VI than group IV and blank group.


CONCLUSIONS
Both administration of pcDNA4-VEGF165 and skin flap delay can improve the survival of rat's abdominal axial skin flap, but the mechanisms of the effect were different. The combination of the two ways has stronger effect.
Zhang
Yan
Y
Department of Orthopedic Traumatology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan, China. doctorzhangyan@yahoo.com.cn
Mao
Jun-Sheng
JS
Wang
Bing-Chen
BC
Zhang
Kai
K
Shi
En-Dong
ED
Lin
Yong-Jie
YJ
Huang
Kang-Mei
KM
Cai
Jin-Fang
JF
D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006085:Graft Survival; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A