[Comparison of the effect of local administration of endothelial progenitor cells and VEGF on improving neovascularization in flap prefabrication].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of local administration of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and VECF on improving neovascularization and augmenting the survival areas in a rat model of prefabricated flap.


METHODS
Prefabricated flaps were created by ligating the right femoral vascular pedicle and implanting it underneath the abdominal flap. The in vitro cultured EPCs (Group I , n=15) and VEGF protein (Group II , n=15) were injected subcutaneously around the implanted pedicle in experimental groups. PBS was injected in control group (Group Ill , n=15). 4 weeks later, the abdominal island flap based solely on the implanted vessels was elevated and sutured back. Then flap viability and numbers of capillary were evaluated on day 7.


RESULTS
There was more statistically significant augmentation of flap survival [(87.26 +/- 10.13) % versus (66.13 +/- 9.9)% and (55.59 +/- 13.06)%, P < 0.001], a higher capillary density (38.67 +/- 9.52 versus 25.83 +/- 6.33 and 26.5 +/- 5.61 capillary/mm2 , P < 0.05) in EPCs group than in the other two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
EPCs are superior to VEGF in improving neovascularization during flap prefabrication. Local transplantation of bone marrow-derived EPCs may be a useful strategy for augmentation of the survival areas of prefabricated flaps.
Zan
Tao
T
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the Ninth People' s Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200011, China.
Dong
Ji-ying
JY
Li
Hua
H
Weng
Rui
R
Yang
Mei
M
Xie
Yun
Y
Li
Qing-feng
QF
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D006085:Graft Survival; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000494:pharmacology*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A