Effects of Vinpocetine on Random Skin Flap Survival in Rats

Abstract

The effect of vinpocetine on flap survival, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were evaluated in this study. The McFarlane flap model was established in 20 rats and evaluated within two groups. Postoperative celiac injection was given for 7 days in the two groups: vinpocetine was applied in Group 1, and the same volume of saline was applied in Group 2. Flap necrosis was measured on day 7 by cellophane in all groups. VEGF expression was determined using immunohistochemical methods on tissue samples taken after 7 days of injections. SOD and MDA contents were examined according to the Kit (reagent instructions). Vinpocetine significantly reduced necrosis area in Group 1 (p < 0.05). VEGF expression and SOD contents were significantly increased in Group 1 compared with Group 2 (p < 0.01), whereas MDA level was reduced (p < 0.05). This experimental study demonstrates that vinpocetine improves survival of random skin flaps, promotes neovascularization, and increases VEGF expression. Meanwhile, vinpocetine has a protective effect against ischemia-reperfusion injury by improving SOD vitality and decreasing MDA value.

Keywords

vinpocetine - random skin flap - survival - vascular endothelial growth factor - free radical

• References

• 1 Yang M, Sheng L, Li H, Weng R, Li QF. Improvement of the skin flap survival with the bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells transplantation in a rat model. Microsurgery 2010; 30 (4) 275-281
• 2 Patyar S, Prakash A, Modi M, Medhi B. Role of vinpocetine in cerebrovascular diseases. Pharmacol Rep 2011; 63 (3) 618-628
• 3 Kelly CP, Gupta A, Keskin M, Jackson IT. A new design of a dorsal flap in the rat to study skin necrosis and its prevention. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2010; 63 (9) 1553-1556
• 4 Kelly CP, Gupta A, Keskin M, Jackson IT. A new design of a dorsal flap in the rat to sutdy skin necrosis and its prevention. Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2010; 63 (9) 1553-1556
• 5 Ozkan O, Ozgentas HE. Combination of rat vest, teeth shortening, and nail cutting to prevent autocannibalization and protect surgical flaps. Plast Reconstr Surg 2006; 117 (5) 1671
• 6 Mandriota SJ, Pyke C, Di Sanza C, Quinodoz P, Pittet B, Pepper MS. Hypoxia-inducible angiopoietin-2 expression is mimicked by iodonium compounds and occurs in the rat brain and skin in response to systemic hypoxia and tissue ischemia. Am J Pathol 2000; 156 (6) 2077-2089
• 7 Chen Z, Wang T, Cai L , et al. Clinicopathological significance of non-small cell lung cancer with high prevalence of Oct-4 tumor cells. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2012; 31 (1) 10
• 8 Ozkan F, Senayli Y, Ozyurt H, Erkorkmaz U, Bostan B. Antioxidant Effects of Propofol on Tourniquet-Induced Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: An Experimental Study. J Surg Res 2012; 176 (2) 601-607
• 9 Valikovics A. [Investigation of the effect of vinpocetine on cerebral blood flow and cognitive functions]. Ideggyogy Sz 2007; 60 (7-8) 301-310
• 10 Zhang F, Fischer K, Komorowska-Timek E , et al. Improvement of skin paddle survival by application of vascular endothelial growth factor in a rat TRAM flap model. Ann Plast Surg 2001; 46 (3) 314-319
• 11 Vourtsis SA, Spyriounis PK, Agrogiannis GD, Ionac M, Papalois AE. VEGF application on rat skin flap survival. J Invest Surg 2012; 25 (1) 14-19
• 12 Cui J, Lui L, Zou J , et al. Protective effect of endogenous hydrogen sulfide against oxidative stress in gastric ischemia-reperfusion injury. Exp Ther Med 2013; 5 (3) 689-694
• 13 Sun LJ, Li YJ, Shi JS, Wang X, Wang X. Protective effects of ligustrazine on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat kidneys. Microsurgery 2002; 22 (8) 343-346
• 14 Stolc S. Indole derivatives as neuroprotectants. Life Sci 1999; 65 (18-19) 1943-1950
• 15 Jeon KI, Xu X, Aizawa T , et al. Vinpocetine inhibits NF-kappaB-dependent inflammation via an IKK-dependent but PDE-independent mechanism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107 (21) 9795-9800
• 16 Medina AE. Vinpocetine as a potent antiinflammatory agent. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107 (22) 9921-9922
• 17 Sitges M, Aldana BI, Chiu LM, Nekrassov V. Characterization of phenytoin, carbamazepine, vinpocetine and clorgyline simultaneous effects on sodium channels and catecholamine metabolism in rat striatal nerve endings. Neurochem Res 2009; 34 (3) 470-479
• 18 Sitges M, Galván E, Nekrassov V. Vinpocetine blockade of sodium channels inhibits the rise in sodium and calcium induced by 4-aminopyridine in synaptosomes. Neurochem Int 2005; 46 (7) 533-540