Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 25, 2026
Eyestalk Ablation to Increase Ovarian Maturation in Mud Crabs
Published on: March 31, 2023
[Effect of ecdysterone on survival of random-pattern skin flap in rats]
Xinfeng Gao1, Ying Cen, Ye Song
1Department of Plastic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu Sichuan, 610041, P.R. China.
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 x 2 cm, was symmetrically raised. Ecdysterone (5 mg/kg) and normal saline (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 < 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 < 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 < 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 < 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 lipid peroxidation, and promoting angiogenesis of skin flaps.
