Effect of ginsenoside rb1 on survival of dorsal random-pattern skin flap with large length-to-width ratio in rats / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ginsenoside Rb1 has been extensively used in the protection and treatment of heart, encephalon, lung, kidney and liver damage. However, its application in skin flap is rare.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of intraperitoneal injection of ginsenoside Rb1 on the survival of the dorsal random-pattern skin flap with large length-to-width ratio in rats.METHODS: Healthy adult SD rats were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. A caudally based dorsal random pattern skin flap, 80 mmx20 mm (length width = 41), was symmetrically made. Ginsenoside Rb1 (2 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into the experimental group rats, and the same volume of normal saline was injected into the control group. Malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) level of the flaps were tested 1 day after operation; the amount of viable tissues of the flaps were examined by planimetry 10 days after operation. Specimens from the proximal, middle and distal flaps were harvested for HE staining to examine the microstructure.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At the first day after operation, NO level was higher in the experimental group than the control group (P< 0.01), while MDA level was lower than the control group (P< 0.01). At the 10th day after operation, the survival rate of the flap was significantly greater in the experimental group than the control group (P < 0.001). Histological observation showed that compared with the control group, the edema and inflammatory cells infiltration were less, while the fiber hyperplasia and the microvascular growth were more obvious in the experimental group. Results show that intraperitoneal injection of ginsenoside Rb1 can enhance the blood supply of the flaps and improve the survival of the random-pattern skin flaps with large length-to-width ratio in rats. This may involve its effects of improving NO activity, decreasing lipid peroxidation, and promoting angiogenesis of skin flaps.