title: Vascular anatomy of the hamster retractor muscle with regard to its microvascular transfer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The hamster retractor muscle (RET) is used as an in vivo model in studies of skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury. The RET is unique in that the muscle can be isolated while preserving the primary vascular supply so that its contractile function can be measured simultaneously with local microvascular responses to experimental interventions. The goal of this study was to understand the anatomical origin of the vascular supply to the RET and determine whether the RET can be used as a free flap after surgical isolation of the thoracodorsal vessels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microdissection was performed to determine the anatomy of the vasculature that supplies and drains the RET.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Distinct numbers and patterns of feed arteries (2-4) and collecting veins (1-3) were identified (n = 26 animals). Dye injection (n = 8) of the thoracodorsal artery demonstrated that the RET remains perfused following its isolation on the thoracodorsal pedicle. Heterotopic allograft transplantation of the RET (n = 2) was performed by anastomosing the thoracodorsal vessels to the femoral vessels using the end-to-side technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anatomical relationships indicate that the RET can be used as a free flap model for evaluating the effect of preservation strategies and transplantation on skeletal muscle microcirculation and contractile function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht, The Netherlands. dewith@nvpc.nl
authors.forename: M C J
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de With
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: A B A
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kroese
authors.forename: E P A B
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: van der Heijden
authors.forename: R L A W
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Bleys
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008866:Microsurgery; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000637:transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous