Effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on random rat skin flaps vascularization

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Wound Healing Research
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Skin flap viability is crucial for reconstructive surgery.
• Angiogenesis, or new blood vessel formation, is vital for tissue survival.
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF-A) is a key regulator of angiogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) on angiogenesis in a rat skin flap model.
• To assess the expression of VEGF-A in relation to skin flap viability under HBO treatment.

Main Methods:

• Forty rats were divided into four groups, including control and HBO-treated groups with and without skin flaps.
• Skin flaps were harvested, sectioned, and analyzed using immunohistochemistry for VEGF-A.
• The number of VEGF-A-immunostained blood vessels was quantified to evaluate angiogenesis.

Main Results:

• HBO treatment did not alter normal skin morphology in control groups.
• Skin flaps in the HBO-treated group showed reduced tissue damage and inflammation compared to controls.
• Significantly higher numbers of VEGF-A-immunostained blood vessels were observed in HBO-treated skin flaps, particularly in distal regions.

Conclusions:

• Hyperbaric oxygenation significantly promotes angiogenesis in rat skin flaps.
• HBO treatment improves the viability of random skin flaps, likely through enhanced vascularization.