Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2017, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (5): 526-531.doi: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2017.05.010

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The vascular evolution of an extended flap on the dorsum of rats and the involvement of MMP-2 and MMP-9

CHEN Yong-zhong1, HUANG Jun-ying2, XUE Lan2,  ZHANG Jin-yu2,LIU Sheng-wei2, DONG Guo-qiang1, QIAN Sheng1, CAI Jun-xiong1, WANG Yan-ting3   

  1. 1. Department of Orthopaedics, Yongan Municipal Hospital, Sanming 366000,Fujian, China;  2. Institute of Neuroscientific Study, Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350108, China;  3.Department of Medical Technology, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361023, Fujian, China
  • Online:2017-09-25 Published:2017-10-30

Abstract:

Objective Toinvestigate whether MMPs are involved in the dilation process of choke vessels after flap elevation. Methods The model of an extended flap based on theiliolumbar perforator with a size of 10cm×3cm was established on the dorsum of rats. The dorsal skinfold chamber technique was adopted for observation of the vascular morphological evolution of flaps on 20 rats on a macroscopic level. 25 rats underwent flap elevation and were equally divided into five groups based on time points, i.e, 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 days after flap elevation. Tissues on the choke zone was harvested and prepared for analysis of MMP-2 and MMP-9 by western blot, immunohistochemistry and gelatin zymography. Results  The diameter of the arteries in the choke zone increased after flap elevation, reaching the peak on day 3, which was 80% larger than that on day 0. The diameter of veins in the choke zone, particularly that of the communicating venules, increased drastically in the first three days after flap elevation. The western blot analysis revealed significantly increased expression of MMP- 2 and 9 in the choke zone following surgery. The Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed expression of MMP-2 and 9 being located mainly in the endothelia. The gelatin zymography analysis revealed only the increased activity of MMP-9 following flap creation. Conclusions This study offered the first morphological evidence for the assumption that venous blood of an extended flap drains through the bypass route in the first three days after surgery and then through the deinnevated veins later on. The MMP-9 might play a more important role than MMP-2 in the morphological evolution of vasculature in the flap.

Key words: Extended flap,  Choke vessels,  MMP-2,  MMP-9