Preclinical efficacy of slow-release bFGF in ischemia-reperfusion injury in a Dorsal Island skin flap model

• Published in: Journal of reconstructive microsurgery Vol. 29; no. 5; p. 341
• Main Authors: Wang, Yang, Orbay, Hakan, Huang, Chenyu, Tobita, Morikuni, Hyakusoku, Hiko, Myamoto, Masaaki, Tabata, Yasuhiko, Mizuno, Hiroshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.2013
• Subjects: Angiography - methods; Animals; Cytokines - metabolism; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 - metabolism; Graft Survival; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Reperfusion Injury - metabolism; Reperfusion Injury - prevention & control; Surgical Flaps - blood supply; Thermography
• ISSN: 1098-8947
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1343830

The effect of slow-release basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on ischemia-reperfusion injury was examined using an island skin flap model in rats. Paired rectangular island skin flaps were elevated on the dorsum of 30 Fischer rats. The flaps were subjected to 6 hours of ischemia. Before reperfusion the flaps were injected with acidic gelatin hydrogel microspheres + phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (group I), 20 μg slow-release bFGF + PBS (group II), 50 μg slow-release bFGF + PBS (group III), and 150 μg slow-release bFGF + PBS (group IV). The mean percent flap survival area and the average number of vessels detected by microangiography were significantly higher in group IV (p < 0.05) than in groups I, II, and III. The immunohistochemical staining for vasculogenic growth factors was quantitatively higher in group IV (p < 0.01). In conclusion, slow-release bFGF prevents ischemia-reperfusion injury by upregulating the secretion of vasculogenic growth factors.