Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2025
Cecal Ligation and Puncture-induced Sepsis as a Model To Study Autophagy in Mice
Published on: February 9, 2014
Cordycepin promotes the survival of random-pattern skin flaps via autophagy in a rat model
Yiheng Chen1, Wenzhen Zhang2, Lian Lin2
1Department of Orthopedics (Division of Plastic and Hand Surgery), The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Purpose:
The use of random-pattern skin flaps for surgical tissue reconstructions is common in covering skin defects, but distal ischemia often leads to flap necrosis. Previous studies have reported that cordycepin (Cor) can reduce the damage of ischemic/reperfusion(I/R) associated diseases, but its effect on flap viability remains unknown. Cor has been shown to promote the survival of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and enhance autophagy levels, suggesting a potential relationship between flap survival and autophagy.
Process:
In this study, sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups: Control, Cor, and Cor + 3-methyladenine (3MA). Histological and protein analysis were performed to assess the levels of angiogenesis, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and autophagy.
Result:
Our results demonstrate that Cor enhances random skin flap viability by promoting angiogenesis, inhibiting apoptosis, and reducing oxidative stress. Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting revealed that Cordycepin upregulates autophagy. The beneficial effects of Cor treatment were weakened by 3-Methyladenine (3-MA), the most common autophagy inhibitor.
Conclusion:
Overall, our research suggests that Cor regulates angiogenesis, oxidative stress, and cell apoptosis by promoting autophagy, which positively affects flap survival.
