Objective: To compare the effect of local administration of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and VECF on improving neovascularization and augmenting the survival areas in a rat model of prefabricated flap.
Methods: Prefabricated flaps were created by ligating the right femoral vascular pedicle and implanting it underneath the abdominal flap. The in vitro cultured EPCs (Group I , n=15) and VEGF protein (Group II , n=15) were injected subcutaneously around the implanted pedicle in experimental groups. PBS was injected in control group (Group Ill , n=15). 4 weeks later, the abdominal island flap based solely on the implanted vessels was elevated and sutured back. Then flap viability and numbers of capillary were evaluated on day 7.
Results: There was more statistically significant augmentation of flap survival [(87.26 +/- 10.13) % versus (66.13 +/- 9.9)% and (55.59 +/- 13.06)%, P < 0.001], a higher capillary density (38.67 +/- 9.52 versus 25.83 +/- 6.33 and 26.5 +/- 5.61 capillary/mm2 , P < 0.05) in EPCs group than in the other two groups.
Conclusions: EPCs are superior to VEGF in improving neovascularization during flap prefabrication. Local transplantation of bone marrow-derived EPCs may be a useful strategy for augmentation of the survival areas of prefabricated flaps.