title: Long-term angiogenic activity of free grafts and pedicle flap in a rabbit urethroplasty model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the late angiogenic activity of free grafts and a pedicle flap in a rabbit urethroplasty model to determine whether angiogenic activity plays a role in late outcomes of urethral reconstruction in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight rabbits were randomly divided into five groups according to the method used to bridge a urethral defect as an onlay patch: Control, simple closure of urethral defect (Group O1); free penile skin graft (FPSG, Group A1); buccal mucosal graft (BuMG, Group B1); bladder mucosal graft (BlMG, Group C1); and pedicle penile skin flap (PPSF, Group D1). Angiogenic activity of the patch on postoperative day 84 was assessed by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The angiogenic activity in Groups O1, A1, B1, C1, and D1 was 23.33 ± 4.92 (means ± SD), 42.89 ± 6.52, 55.78 ± 3.46, 53.61 ± 6.17, and 24.11 ± 9.07 vessels per optical field, respectively. There were statistically significant differences (p < .001) between Group O1 and A1 B1, C1, Group A1 and B1, C1, D1, Groups B1 and D1 and Groups C1 and D1, but not between Groups O1 and D1 (p = 1.000) and Groups B1 and C1 (p = .872). The long-term angiogenic activity of all the groups was significantly lower (p < .001) than in the corresponding early groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the angiogenic activity of all the groups decreased in the late assessment, the buccal mucosal graft continued to exhibit elevated angiogenesis above bladder or skin (free or pedicle) graft. Therefore, buccal mucosal patch graft might be preferable because of its easier harvesting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Alexandroupolis University Hospital, Democritus University of Thrace School of Medicine, 68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece. gvaos@med.duth.gr
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vaos
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gardikis
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giatromanolaki
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kambouri
authors.forename: Grigorios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trιpsianis
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ypsilantis
authors.forename: Efthimios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sivridis
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simopoulos
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000601:surgery; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D010413:Penis / Q000601:surgery; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D019737:Transplants / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014521:Urethra / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000601:surgery; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase