ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To determine whether prostaglandin E^sub 2^ improves angiogenesis in full-thickness skin grafts.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether prostaglandin E^sub 2^ improves angiogenesis in full-thickness skin grafts.

DESIGN: Randomized study

SUBJECTS: 20 male rabbits, divided into 2 experimental and 2 curb groups

METHODOLOGY: Prostaglandin E^sub 2^ (experimental groups) or prostaglandin E^sub 2^ vehicle (control groups) was injected locally into experimental skin autografts one time a day for up to 5 days. Five and 10 days after the surgery the grafts were harvested and after processing, fractional and absolute whirls of the vessels were estimated in the grafted skin using stereologic methods

MAIN RESULTS: Gros appearance of the check and experimental grafts were the same. Qualitative histologic examination of fortunate grafts in experimental and manage groups showed areas of viable epidermis with a negligible inflammatory infiltrate and moderate fibrosis. vital fluid cells were frequently seen in the utensils under investigation. Histologic slides showed significantly higher mean fractional tome (percent) and absolute volume of the ducts (mm^sup 3^) per unit bulk (mm^sup 3^) of the grafted skin in the experimental arranges than in the control groups

CONCLUSION: Fractional and absolute mass of the vessels were greater in prostaglandin E^sub 2^-treated grafts than in the direct grafts. Prostaglandin E^sub 2^ appears to increase the contortion of vessels in full-thickness skin grafts and can be explored as an agent to improve angiogenesis of the grafts.

ADV SKIN grief CARE 2004;17:202-4,206.

Angiogenesis is crucial to full-thickness skin graft survival.1 Improvement of graft vascularization and maintenance of adequate microvascular perfusion contribute to the succes of transplantation. Vascularization of clear full-thickness skin grafts is achieved from one side early anastomoses between the original small tube of the graft and the bed.2 Research has shown that the large arteries in rabbits survive full-thickness skin autograft and become permanently joined at the periphery of the grafts to adjacent detached arteries in the host.3

Prostaglandin E^sub 2^ (PGE^sub 2^) is among the indivisible particles that promote angiogenesis. Investigators have reported that PGE^sub 2^ enhances angiogenesis in hurt healing of soft tissue.4 In addition, studies present to view that PGE^sub 2^ stimulates angiogenesis in mechanical spinal cord injury;5 gastric imposthume healing;6,7 and gastric, breast, head and neck and colorectal carcinoma. 68-10 PGE^sub 2^ also induces vascularization during bone formation by the agency of stimulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)11 and acting as an inflammatory angiogenesis factor.12

Infusion of PGE^sub 2^ has been used to enhance the preservation of lung and skin transplantation.13,14 PGE^sub 2^ elicits a dose-dependent increase in femoral kindred flow.15 Furthermore, evidence exists that PGE^sub 2^ may have a part in prevention of allograft rejection.16,17 However, solitary limited quantitative work on this enslave is available.

Given these considerations, the goal of the at hand study was to determine whether PGE^sub 2^ improves angiogenesis in full-thickness skin graft. by dint of using stereologic methods, the authors examined to what extent much of the unit mass of the grafts induced by way of PGE^sub 2^ is occupied by dint of the vessels.

METHODS

Animals

Twenty male Dutch rabbits, weighing between 1800 and 2100 grams, were divided randomly into 2 groups-experimental and ascendency Each group was then randomly divided into 2 collections again, yielding 2 experimental and 2 manage groups. Principles of laboratory care established by the agency of the National Institutes of Health18 were followed.

The left posterior sides of the rabbits' neck were shaved. After the induction of anesthesia by way of intramuscular administration of ketamine/xylosin (44 mg/kg and 8 mg/kg respectively), a single full-thickness skin autograit of 2 cm in diameter was remov rotated 180?° and reattached upon the same animal at the same site. The torture was closed with a continuous 3/0 Dafilon line of junction and dressed by tie-over graft.

The same dressing, treated with tetracycline, was used forward all rabbits. Solutions of 02 mL of PGE^sub 2^ in triacetin (glycerol triacetate19 01 mg/mL) were prepared and injected locally into the graft site, between the graft and its bed. Rabbits were housed individually, with unrestrained access to food and water, in a field with a constant temperature of 22?° to 24?° C and a humidity of 55% The rabbits were expos to 12-hour round of yearss of light and darkness.

Skin transplantations were allowed to heal in 1 experimental and 1 sway group for 5 days, with injections of 01 mL of the same solution of PGE^sub 2^ continued daily up to day 5 The other arranges (1 experimental and 1 control) were allowed to heal for 10 days, receiving the same injections as the former groups

At 5 and 10 days after transplantation, grafts were judg for graft viability forward the basis of gross appearance, grain and adherence, and histologic criteria. Skin grafts were harvested at days 5 and 10 respectively.

Stereologic method