title: New and safe experimental model of radiation-induced neurovascular histological changes for microsurgical research.
abstract: The aim is to create a new and safe experimental model of radiation-induced neurovascular histological changes with reduced morbidity and mortality for use with experimental microsurgical techniques. Seventy-two Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g) were divided as follows: Group I: control group, 24 rats clinically evaluated during six weeks; Group II: evaluation of acute side-effects (two-week follow-up period), 24 irradiated (20 Gy) rats; and Group III: evaluation of subacute side-effects (six-week follow-up period), 24 irradiated (20 Gy) rats. Variables included clinical assessments, weight, vascular permeability (arterial and venous), mortality and histological studies. No significant differences were observed between groups with respect to the variables studied. Significant differences were observed between groups I vs II-III regarding survival rates and histological changes to arteries, veins and nerves. Rat body weights showed progressive increases in all groups, and the mortality rate of the present model is 10.4% compared with 30-40% in the previous models. In conclusion, the designed model induces selective changes by radiotherapy in the neurovascular bundle without histological changes affecting the surrounding tissues. This model allows therapeutic experimental studies to be conducted, including the viability of microvascular and microneural sutures post radiotherapy in the cervical neurovascular bundle.
authors.affiliation: 1 Orthopedic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari Vall Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.|2 Hand and Microsurgery Unit, ICATME-Hospital Universitari Quiron-Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain.|3 Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sergi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barrera-Ochoa
authors.affiliation: 1 Orthopedic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari Vall Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.|3 Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gallardo-Calero
authors.affiliation: 1 Orthopedic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari Vall Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.|3 Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sallent
authors.affiliation: 3 Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Fernández
authors.affiliation: 4 Radiotherapy Department, Hospital Universitari Vall Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vergés
authors.affiliation: 4 Radiotherapy Department, Hospital Universitari Vall Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giralt
authors.affiliation: 1 Orthopedic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari Vall Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.|3 Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguirre-Canyadell
authors.affiliation: 1 Orthopedic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari Vall Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.|3 Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Velez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014680:Veins / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: cervical; experimental rat model; irradiation; neurovascular microsurgical research; radiotherapy