title: A murine model of orthotopic periorbital subunit transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conventional reconstructive methods fail to achieve satisfactory results in total eyelid defect cases. Vascularized composite tissue allotransplantation might provide both good appearance and function for these patients. We developed an orthotopic periorbital transplantation model in rats to facilitate further experimentation in this field.
  
  
  METHODS
  In anatomical studies, the vascular distribution to and innervation of the periorbital unit were identified and recorded. Then, according to the anatomical studies, eight orthotopic transplantations and two transplantations with pedicle ligation were performed. The posterior facial vein and the external carotid artery were selected as the graft pedicles, while the temporal and upper zygomatic facial nerves were used for graft innervation. All transplanted eyelids were assessed daily. Micro-CT scanning and hematoxylin and eosin staining of the grafts were performed 60 days after the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 90% of recipients tolerated the operation well. All grafts without pedicle ligation survived, and new hair growth was observed. The position of the eyelid was maintained, and eyelid function was partially restored. In the recipients with graft pedicle ligation, the grafts became necrotic and mummified within four to five days. Micro-CT of the surviving grafts showed a good blood supply, and histological staining revealed normal morphology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A periorbital subunit orthotopic transplantation model was established, which might facilitate future eyelid allotransplantation-related experimentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China.
authors.forename: Bowen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China.
authors.forename: Xinxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China.
authors.forename: Jinhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China.
authors.forename: Kaiyan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China. Electronic address: drliqingfeng@yahoo.cn.
authors.forename: Qingfeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China. Electronic address: ben64053326@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hainan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D064595:Composite Tissue Allografts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005143:Eyelids / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D054445:Facial Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006085:Graft Survival; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D063986:Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation / Q000379:methods*; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
keywords: Eyelid; Murine model; Transplantation; Vascularized composite tissue allotransplantation