Enhancement-perfusion therapy by extracorporeal circulation system ameliorates the blood supply of ischemic lower limbs / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In the preliminary study, extracorporeal circulation system simulated physiological environment has been applied in limb preservation, significantly prolonging the severed limb preserving time. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of enhancement-perfusion by extracorporeal circulation system on the blood supply of ischemic lower limbs. METHODS: Eighteen adult Bama mini pigs were equally randomized into three groups group A (no intervention), groups B and C (establishing the ischemic model by arteria cruralis ligation at the right posterior lower limb). At 4 weeks after modeling, the model pigs in the group C received enhancement-perfusion therapy 1 hour per day. One week later, the situations of angiography were detected by digital radiography. The tibialis anterior separated from each pig was used to test the microvessel density by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in the skeletal muscle and serum samples were monitored by western blot and ELISA, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Both diameter and distal collateral circulation of the arteria cruralis in the group C were much better than those in the group B. The microvessel density in the group C was significantly higher than that in the group B (P < 0.05), but the insignificant difference between groups A and C was found (P > 0.05). Both histionic and serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor were significantly increased in the groups B and C compared with the group A, especially in the group C (P < 0.05). In summary, the enhancement-perfusion therapy by extracorporeal circulation system can considerably ameliorate blood supply of lower limbs, providing a promising method for treatment of ischemic lower limbs.