Characteristics of mechanisms of the distant stimulating effect of skin flap autograft on microvascular perfusion in local and systemic microcirculation disorders

Abstract

Objective : to study the characteristics of mechanisms of the distant stimulating effect of full-thickness skin autograft (FTSG) on microvascular perfusion in local and systemic microcirculation disorders. Materials and methods. The experiment was carried out on 87 white male rats, divided into 5 groups: 1) control; 2) animals with local microcirculation disorders induced by sciatic nerve transection and neuroraphy; 3) animals with systemic microcirculation disorders caused by alloxan-induced diabetes; 4) animals that underwent FTSG after sciatic nerve transection and neurography; 5) animals that underwent FTSG in alloxan-induced diabetes. Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) was used to study microcirculation of the dorsal skin of the rear paw. Serum concentrations of vasoactive substances, including catecholamines (CA), histamine, and vasculoendothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the experimental animals were measured. A morphological study of the tissues of the autograft site was carried out on day 42 of the experiment. Results . On day 42 of the experiment, FTSG normalized perfusion in local and systemic microcirculation disorders. FTSG decreases CA level in nerve injury, and to a greater extent in alloxaninduced diabetes. Serum histamine increase under FTSG was more pronounced in rats with nerve injury. Serum VEGF in rats with nerve injury and FTSG increased, which was not observed in alloxan-induced diabetes. Histological assay of the autograft site revealed degenerative changes in the epidermis and dermis of the autotransplant in both experimental models of microcirculatory disorders. Eosinophilic infiltration of the autograft site was more pronounced in nerve injury than in alloxan-induced diabetes. Conclusion. FTSG has a distant stimulating effect on microcirculation, which manifests itself in the same degree in both local and systemic microcirculation disorders. The distant stimulating effect of FTSG on microcirculation is multicomponent in nature and includes a set of regulatory reactions, whose severity differs in local and systemic microcirculatory disorders.