Effects of bradykinin on the survival of multiterritory perforator flaps in rats.
BACKGROUND
Bradykinin, a vasoactive peptide, has many biological functions. For example, it accelerates angiogenesis. Thus, we studied the effects of bradykinin on the survival of perforator flaps.


METHODS
Averagely, 50 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control and bradykinin groups and underwent procedures to the multiterritory perforator flap. Areas of flap survival were tested 7 days later. Flap perfusion was evaluated by laser Doppler imaging. We assessed the extent of autophagy by determining LC3-II/I, Beclin 1, and p62. Flap angiogenesis was assessed by immunohistochemistry and H&E staining. We measured the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein using western blot. We assessed oxidative stress by measuring the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The apoptotic index was also evaluated by western blot, and we determined nitric oxide (NO) production using an NO assay kit.


RESULTS
The bradykinin group exhibited significantly larger areas of flap survival, higher blood supply, and more neovascularization. The bradykinin group also had higher SOD activity, higher VEGF expression and NO content, and reduced MDA compared to the control group. Rats treated with bradykinin also had lower levels of apoptosis and autophagy relative to the control group.


CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that bradykinin promotes the survival of multiterritory perforator flaps by increasing angiogenesis, promoting the release of NO, suppressing apoptosis, reducing oxidative stress, and inhibiting autophagy.
['Wang|Jieke|J|', 'Ji|Encheng|E|', 'Lin|Chen|C|', 'Wang|Long|L|', 'Dai|Li|L|', 'Gao|Weiyang|W|']
D000818:Animals D017209:Apoptosis D001343:Autophagy D001920:Bradykinin D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical D006085:Graft Survival D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry D008297:Male D023421:Models, Animal D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic D009569:Nitric Oxide D018384:Oxidative Stress D061525:Perforator Flap D051381:Rats D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley D016896:Treatment Outcome D014665:Vasodilator Agents
Bradykinin Perforator flap Angiogenesis Autophagy Apoptosis