rhVEGF and experimental rat skin flaps: systemic or local administration and morphological characteristics

Skin flap survival is a significant problem in skin surgery; in particular, inadequate arterial or venous blood supply results in necrosis of the dist almost portion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of Vascul ar Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) of modifying the morphological features of skin flaps. Bilateral epigastric skin flaps were raised in 16 Wistar ma le rats. The epigastric artery and vein of the left flaps were clamped and then injected with rhVEGF (8 rats) or saline (8 rats). The right flaps were not clamped and received rhVEGF or saline systemically. The rats were euth anized on the seventh day and flap skin samples collected. Tissue fragments were subject to immunohistochemical (rhVEGF, VEGFr, VIII factor, CD34 anti bodies), ultrastructural and morphostructural investigations. The results s howed that rh VEGF improved the condition of flaps and that systemic admini stration was effective in promoting the development of an adequate vascular network.