Impact of vascular endothelial growth factor on skin graft survival in irradiated rats.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) survival on irradiated tissue as a model of wound healing in ischemic conditions.


METHODS
Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 30 Gy of irradiation to their left dorsum (10 Gy/d). After 4 weeks of recovery, 3-cm FTSGs were harvested from the healthy contralateral dorsum and placed onto irradiated recipient beds. Before grafting, recipient beds were delivered subfascial injections of either VEGF protein (5 microg) or physiologic saline. Graft failure (more than 10% necrosis) and graft microvascular density were compared between groups.


RESULTS
Seven of the 11 FTSGs from saline-treated irradiated beds (64%) failed, whereas the failure rate for grafts treated with VEGF was 23% (3 of 13) (P = .048). Mean microvascular density was not different between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Exogenously administered VEGF may improve the outcome of FTSGs on irradiated tissue beds.
Richter
Gresham T
GT
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
Bowen
Travis
T
Boerma
Marjan
M
Fan
Chun-Yang
CY
Hauer-Jensen
Martin
M
Vural
Emre
E
D000818:Animals; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014945:Wound Healing
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A