A NEW APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF SKIN VASCULARIZATION

There are several methods of quantifying the vascularization of tissue s, including the skin, but they are imprecise in terms of quantificati on of the complexity and structure of vascular networks. Fractal analy sis can quantify the complexity of any structure existing in nature by using fractional dimension. This study makes a case for this approach by demonstrating the fractal structure of the skin vascular network i n the mouse. The skin was removed from the posterior face of the thigh , which is supplied by a musculocutaneous perforator system. Twenty ar terial vascular networks were investigated by image analysis and the f ractal dimension was determined by the box counting method. Statistica l analysis revealed an average mean of fractal dimension D = 1.256 (SD = 0.086), indicating low to intermediate complexity with a narrow dis tribution of results. D should logically fluctuate within a certain li mit, depending on the anatomical structure investigated and its physio logical function. These results demonstrate the ability of fractal ana lysis to quantify the vascular pattern o the skin. Fractal analysis op ens a new field of investigation in the study of vascularization patte rns and possible vascular modification by different physiological or p athological conditions (flap-delay techniques, tobacco use, diabetes m ellitus, classification of diabetic retinopathies).