RESUMO
BACKGROUND: There are many studies on the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor and scar,but the correlation between angiopoietin-1 and scar is rarely reported.OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of angiopoietin-1 and its correlation with angiogenesis during scar formation.METHODS: New Zealand white rabbits irrespective of gender were enrolled, and the scar models were established at the ear ventral center. The scar tissue and normal ear ventral tissue were removed at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after epithelialization. The morphology of scar formation was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, changes of angiogenesis during scar formation were observed through immunohistochemical staining of CD34, and the expression level of angiopoietin-1 was detected by western blot assay.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The expression level of angiopoietin-1 in the scar tissue was increased firstly, peaked at 2 weeks after epithelialization, then decreased gradually, and the lowest at 12 weeks close to the normal value. The number of microvessels was the highest at 4 weeks after epithelialization and then decreased gradually. The number of mature vessels was on a rise. Number of mature vessels/total number of microvessels tended to be increased. The expression of angiopoietin-1 was correlated negatively with the number of mature vessels, and number of mature vessels/total number of microvessels during scar formation (P < 0.05). To conclude, angiopoietin-1 may play an important role in angiogenesis during scar formation.