ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of adipose stromal vascular fraction cells (SVFs) with VEGF on the neovascularization of free fat transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SVFs were obtained from subcutaneous fat and labelled with DiI. 0.3 ml autologous fat tissue was mixed with 0.2 ml cells: 1) autologous SVFs with VEGF (Group A); 2) autologous SVFs (Group B); 3) complete DMEM (Group C) And then the mixture was injected randomly under the back skin of 12 nude mice. The transplanted fat tissue in three groups was harvested at 2 months after implantation. Wet weight and diameter of fat grafts was measured. After HE and CD31 staining,blood vessel density, viable adipocytes and fibrous proliferation were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Trace of SVFs labeled by DiI in vivo could be detected by fluorescent microscope. The wet weight of fat grafts was (191.90 +/- 9.81) mg in group A, (177.01 +/- 10.50) mg in group B, and (92.05 +/- 8.30) mg in group C (P<0.01). The diameter of fat grafts was (0.49 +/- 0.24) cm in group A, (0.40 +/- 0.26) cm in group B, and (0.32 +/- 0.28) cm in group C (P<0.01). Histological analysis showed the blood vessel density was (14.58 +/- 2.06)/HPL in group A, (11.55 +/- 2.18)/HPL in group B, (7.87 +/- 1.55)/HPL in group C. Compared with group B and group C, group A had more adipose tissue with less fat necrosis and fibrosis and had significantly higher capillary density.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The autologous adipose stromal vascular fraction cells with VEGF could improve the neovascularization of free fat significantly. It indicates a wide clinical application in the future.</p>