Objective To investigate the effects of ecdysterone on the survival of the dorsal random-pattern skin flap with large length-to-width ratio in rats and its possible mechanisms. Methods Twenty-four healthy adult SD rats (male and/or female) weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group (n=12 per group).A caudally based dorsal random pattern skin flap, measuring 8 cm × 2 cm, was symmetrically raised. Ecdysterone (5 mg/kg) and normal sal ine (5 mg/kg) were injected into the abdominal cavity of rats in the experimental group and the control group at 10 minutes before operation and from the first to the fifth day after operation, respectively. The general condition of the rats was observed after operation. At 7 days after operation, the survival rate of the flap was detected, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the malonyldialdehyde (MDA) level were tested, HE and immunohistochemistry staining observation of the flap were performed. VIII factor dried microvessels in the middle part of the flap (4 cm far away from pedicle) were counted. Results All the rats survived until the end of the experiment. At 7 days after operation, the survival rate of the flap was 62.323% ± 7.046% in the experimental group and 47.753% ± 2.952% in the control group (P lt; 0.001); SOD activity was (54.560 ± 4.535) U/mgprot in the experimental group and (23.962 ± 3.985) U/mgprot in the control group (P lt; 0.001); MDA level was (8.445 ± 0.992) nmol/mgprot in the experimental group and (14.983 ± 0.929) nmol/mgprot in the control group (P lt; 0.001). Histology observation: compared with the control group, the inflammatory cells infiltration was less and the hyperplasia of fibers was more obvious in the experimental group. The microvessel counting in the middle part of the flap was 17.817 ± 2.420 in the experimental group and 8.967 ± 2.000 in the control group (P lt; 0.001). Conclusion Perioperative intraperitoneal injection of ecdysterone can promote the survival of the random-pattern skin flaps with large length-to-width ratio. Its mechanism may be related to its effects of improving SOD activity, decreasing l ipid peroxidation, and promoting angiogenesis of skin flaps.
Objective To investigate the effects of glutathione (GSH) on survival of the random skin flap in rats and the probable mechanism that contribute to this effect. Methods Twenty SD rats with 200-250 g in weight, were randomly divided into the experimental group and control group(n=10). Random flap of 8 cm×2 cm in size was made on the back of each rat with the pedicel on the angular of the scapular. GSH(250 mg/kg) and NS of the same dose were injected into the abdominal cavity of rats in the experimental groupand the control group immediately after the operative, 1st and 2nd days respectively. The rats were killed on the 7th day after the operation. The tissue pathology, the survival rate of the flap, the superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) level were compared between two groups. Results The mean survival rate of the flap on the 7th day in the experimental group（56.77%±10.67%） was higher than that in the control group(40.16%±7.12%)(Plt;0.05).SOD activity in experimental group （306.06±84.87 U/mgprot）was higher than that in the control group （224.79±27.12 U/mgprot）, while MDA level （3.835±0.457 nmol/mgprot）was lower than that in the control group (6.127±0.837 nmol/mgprot)(Plt;0.05). Histological observation showed that the neutrophil infiltration was less in experimental group than that in the control group; that the experimental group was surperior to the control group in angiogenesis, fibroblasts, fair cells and cuaneous gland. Conclusion The intraperitoneal use of GSH may promote the survival rate of the random flaps and the possible mechanism for improvement may lies in that the GSH can reduce the level of oxygen free radical and lipidperoxidation,and lessen neutrophil infiltration.