Name: the superficial inferior epigastric artery axial flap to study ischemic preconditioning effects in a rat model
Uploaded: 2023-01-27T14:45:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery Axial Flap to Study Ischemic Preconditioning Effects in a Rat Model at JoVE.com

This work was funded by Massachusetts General Hospital (W.G.A) and Shriners Children&#39;s Boston (B.U, K.U, C.L.C). Y.B and I.F.v.R are funded by Shriners Hospitals for Children (Proposal ID: #970280 and #857829 respectively).

The Massachusetts General Hospital Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approved the experimental protocol (IACUC- protocol #2022N000099).The authors followed the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments) guideline checklist for this work. All animals received humane care following the National Institute of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. A total of 12 male Lewis rats (250-350 g, 8-10 weeks old) were used for all experiments.
1. Anim...

<ol>
	<li>Copelli, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Management+of+free+flap+failure+in+head+and+neck+surgery.">Management of free flap failure in head and neck surgery.</a> ACTA Otorhinolaryngologica Italica. 37 (5), 387-392 (2017).</li><li>Lese, I., Biedermann, R., Constantinescu, M., Grobbelaar, A. O., Olariu, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Predicting+risk+factors+that+lead+to+free+flap+failure+and+vascular+compromise:+A+single+unit+experience+with+565+free+tissue+transfers.">Predicting risk factors that lead to free flap failure and vascular compromise: A single unit experience with 565 free tissue transfers.</a> Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive &amp; Aesthetic Surgery. 74 (3), 512-522 (2021).</li><li>Wang, W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Flap+failure+and+salvage+in+head+and+neck+reconstruction.">Flap failure and salvage in head and neck reconstruction.</a> Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 34 (4), 314-320 (2020).</li><li>Gabrysz-Forget, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Free+versus+pedicled+flaps+for+reconstruction+of+head+and+neck+cancer+defects:+a+systematic+review.">Free versus pedicled flaps for reconstruction of head and neck cancer defects: a systematic review.</a> Journal of Otolaryngology - Head &amp; Neck Surgery. 48 (1), 13 (2019).</li><li>Sievert, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Failure+of+pedicled+flap+reconstruction+in+the+head+and+neck+area:+A+case+report+of+a+bilateral+subclavian+artery+stenosis.">Failure of pedicled flap reconstruction in the head and neck area: A case report of a bilateral subclavian artery stenosis.</a> International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. 76, 381-385 (2020).</li><li>Vaienti, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Failure+by+congestion+of+pedicled+and+free+flaps+for+reconstruction+of+lower+limbs+after+trauma:+the+role+of+negative-pressure+wound+therapy.">Failure by congestion of pedicled and free flaps for reconstruction of lower limbs after trauma: the role of negative-pressure wound therapy.</a> Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. 14 (3), 213-217 (2013).</li><li>Murry, C. E., Jennings, R. B., Reimer, K. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preconditioning+with+ischemia:+a+delay+of+lethal+cell+injury+in+ischemic+myocardium.">Preconditioning with ischemia: a delay of lethal cell injury in ischemic myocardium.</a> Circulation. 74 (5), 1124-1136 (1986).</li><li>Akcal, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Combination+of+ischemic+preconditioning+and+postconditioning+can+minimise+skin+flap+loss:+experimental+study.">Combination of ischemic preconditioning and postconditioning can minimise skin flap loss: experimental study.</a> Journal of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery. 50 (4), 233-238 (2016).</li><li>Ulker, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Does+ischemic+preconditioning+increase+flap+survival+by+ADORA2B+receptor+activation.">Does ischemic preconditioning increase flap survival by ADORA2B receptor activation.</a> Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation. 75 (2), 151-162 (2020).</li><li>Min, S. -. H., Choe, S. H., Kim, W. S., Ahn, S. -. H., Cho, Y. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+ischemic+conditioning+on+head+and+neck+free+flap+oxygenation:+a+randomized+controlled+trial.">Effects of ischemic conditioning on head and neck free flap oxygenation: a randomized controlled trial.</a> Scientific Reports. 12 (1), 8130 (2022).</li><li>Dacho, A., Lyutenski, S., Aust, G., Dietz, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ischemic+preconditioning+in+a+rat+adipocutaneous+flap+model.">Ischemic preconditioning in a rat adipocutaneous flap model.</a> HNO. 57 (8), 829-834 (2009).</li><li>Yildiz, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+the+flap+survival+with+ischemic+preconditioning+on+different+pedicles+under+varied+ischemic+intervals+in+a+rat+bilateral+pedicled+flap+model.">Comparison of the flap survival with ischemic preconditioning on different pedicles under varied ischemic intervals in a rat bilateral pedicled flap model.</a> Microsurgery. 34 (2), 129-135 (2014).</li><li>Ottomann, C., K&#252;ntscher, M., Hartmann, B., Antonic, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ischaemic+preconditioning+suppresses+necrosis+of+adipocutaneous+flaps+in+a+diabetic+rat+model+regardless+of+the+manner+of+preischaemia+induction.">Ischaemic preconditioning suppresses necrosis of adipocutaneous flaps in a diabetic rat model regardless of the manner of preischaemia induction.</a> Dermatology Research and Practice. 2017, 4137597 (2017).</li><li>Grimaud, J., Murthy, V. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=How+to+monitor+breathing+in+laboratory+rodents:+a+review+of+the+current+methods.">How to monitor breathing in laboratory rodents: a review of the current methods.</a> Journal of Neurophysiology. 120 (2), 624-632 (2018).</li><li>Strohl, K. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ventilation+and+metabolism+among+rat+strains.">Ventilation and metabolism among rat strains.</a> Journal of Applied Physiology. 82 (1), 317-323 (1997).</li><li>Mucke, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Autonomization+of+epigastric+flaps+in+rats.">Autonomization of epigastric flaps in rats.</a> Microsurgery. 31 (6), 472-478 (2011).</li><li>Hsu, C. -. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+rat+groin+flap+model+redesigned+for+evaluating+treatment+effects+on+ischemia-reperfusion+injury.">The rat groin flap model redesigned for evaluating treatment effects on ischemia-reperfusion injury.</a> Journal of Surgical Research. 222, 160-166 (2018).</li><li>M&#252;cke, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Indocyanine+green+videoangiography-assisted+prediction+of+flap+necrosis+in+the+rat+epigastric+flap+using+the+flow&#174;+800+tool.">Indocyanine green videoangiography-assisted prediction of flap necrosis in the rat epigastric flap using the flow&#174; 800 tool.</a> Microsurgery. 37 (3), 235-242 (2017).</li><li>Wang, D., Chen, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Indocyanine+green+angiography+for+continuously+monitoring+blood+flow+changes+and+predicting+perfusion+of+deep+inferior+epigastric+perforator+flap+in+rats.">Indocyanine green angiography for continuously monitoring blood flow changes and predicting perfusion of deep inferior epigastric perforator flap in rats.</a> Journal of Investigative Surgery. 34 (4), 393-400 (2021).</li><li>Berkane, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=How+to+secure+pedicled+flaps+using+perioperative+indocyanine+green+angiography:+a+prospective+study+about+10+cases.">How to secure pedicled flaps using perioperative indocyanine green angiography: a prospective study about 10 cases.</a> World Journal of Surgery and Surgical Research. 4 (1), 1319 (2021).</li><li>Alstrup, T., Christensen, B. O., Damsgaard, T. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=ICG+angiography+in+immediate+and+delayed+autologous+breast+reconstructions:+peroperative+evaluation+and+postoperative+outcomes.">ICG angiography in immediate and delayed autologous breast reconstructions: peroperative evaluation and postoperative outcomes.</a> Journal of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery. 52 (5), 307-311 (2018).</li><li>K&#252;ntscher, M. V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ischemic+preconditioning+by+brief+extremity+ischemia+before+flap+ischemia+in+a+rat+model.">Ischemic preconditioning by brief extremity ischemia before flap ischemia in a rat model.</a> Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 109 (7), 2398-2404 (2002).</li><li>Liu, R. Q., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cost+analysis+of+indocyanine+green+fluorescence+angiography+for+prevention+of+anastomotic+leakage+in+colorectal+surgery.">Cost analysis of indocyanine green fluorescence angiography for prevention of anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery.</a> Surgical Endoscopy. 36 (12), 9281-9287 (2022).</li><li>Cheng, M. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Devices+for+ischemic+preconditioning+of+the+pedicled+groin+flap.">Devices for ischemic preconditioning of the pedicled groin flap.</a> The Journal of Trauma. 48 (3), 552-557 (2000).</li><li>Xiao, W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+innovative+and+economical+device+for+ischemic+preconditioning+of+the+forehead+flap+prior+to+pedicle+division:+a+comparative+study.">An innovative and economical device for ischemic preconditioning of the forehead flap prior to pedicle division: a comparative study.</a> Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery. 38 (9), 703-710 (2022).</li><li>K&#252;ntscher, M. V., Hartmann, B., Germann, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Remote+ischemic+preconditioning+of+flaps:+a+review.">Remote ischemic preconditioning of flaps: a review.</a> Microsurgery. 25 (4), 346-352 (2005).</li></ol>

This article describes a reproducible fasciocutaneous flap model harvested in rats, allowing I.P. evaluation. This step-by-step surgical protocol gives research groups a reliable model to test different I.P. regimens. By preventing any vascularization other than the pedicle, this model allows for studying the flap's neovascularization from the wound bed and margin. This study performed the ligation on POD5, as previous studies have observed the autonomization of this flap in rats on POD5-711,...

Plastic and reconstructive surgery is constantly in evolution. The development of muscle, fasciocutaneous, and perforator flaps has made it possible to offer better-quality reconstructions while reducing morbidity. Combining this improved anatomical knowledge with enhanced technical skills, reconstructive surgeons can perform free flap transfers when defects are not close to any local solution. However, while perforator flap surgery is currently the most advanced technique in reconstructive surgery, the literature reports a 5% failure rate in free flap transfers1,2,3, and up to 20% for pedicled flap reconstruction4,5,6. Partial to total flap failure occurs when the flap&#39;s pedicle is compromised, therefore it is essential to continuously search for improvements to the current techniques. One of the methods to improve flap survival is to promote its neovascularization on the wound bed, thus allowing perfusion by a source other than the pedicle. Ischemic preconditioning (I.P.) has been initially described in a heart model7, demonstrating that an organ exposed to controlled ischemia survives to a higher degree after losing its primary blood supply by undergoing ischemia-induced neovascularization. Several authors have studied this cornerstone principle to optimize flap survival in preclinical and clinical models8,9,10.
The advantage of this technique over other methods to improve flap survival is its ease of implementation, consisting of clamp/declamp tests of the blood source. In the rat model, previous authors used the superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap to study I.P. by clamping the main pedicle11,12,13. Nonetheless, several technical issues can be encountered with this model, and the literature lacks well-described protocols.
Therefore, this work aims to provide researchers with a detailed description of a rat SIEA flap procurement technique with an extended dissection of the femoral vessels to allow I.P. studies on an axial fasciocutaneous flap model. This model retains the integrity of the epigastric vessels and instead manipulates the femoral vessels, which are more resilient. We share our experience and tools to improve the study of this phenomenon and increase the replicability of this procedure.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>1 mL Syringe Luer-Lok Tip</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>309628</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3-0 Ethilon 18&#8221; Black Monofilament Nylon suture</td>
			<td>Ethicon</td>
			<td>ETH-663H</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>8-0 Ethilon 12&#8221; Black Monofilament Nylon suture</td>
			<td>Ethicon</td>
			<td>1716G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adson Atraumatic Forceps</td>
			<td>Aesculap Surgical Instruments</td>
			<td>BD51R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Akorn Fluorescein Injection USP 10% Single Dose Vial 5 mL&#160;</td>
			<td>Akorn</td>
			<td>17478025310</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Betadine Solution 5% Povidone-Iodine Antiseptic Microbicide</td>
			<td>PBS Animal Health</td>
			<td>11205</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bipolar Cords</td>
			<td>ASSI</td>
			<td>ASSI.ATK26426</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Buprenorphine Hydrochloride Injection</td>
			<td>PAR Pharmaceutical</td>
			<td>3003406C</td>
			<td>This concentration needs to be diluted for rodents.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Depilatory product &#8211; Nair Hair remover lotion</td>
			<td>Nair</td>
			<td>NC0132811</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ear tag applier</td>
			<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td>NC0038715</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gauze Sponges</td>
			<td>Curity</td>
			<td>6939</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isoflurane Auto-Flow Anesthesia Machine&#160;</td>
			<td>E-Z Systems</td>
			<td>EZ-190F</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isoflurane, USP</td>
			<td>Patterson Veterinary</td>
			<td>1403-704-06</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Jewelers Bipolar Forceps Non-Stick 11 cm, straight pointed tip, 0.25 mm tip diameter</td>
			<td>ASSI</td>
			<td>ASSI.BPNS11223</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lone Star elastic stays</td>
			<td>Cooper Surgical</td>
			<td>3311-1G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lone star Self-retaining retractor&#160;</td>
			<td>Cooper Surgical</td>
			<td>3304G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Metronidazole tablets USP</td>
			<td>Teva</td>
			<td>500111-333-06</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micro spring handle scissors&#160;</td>
			<td>AROSurgical</td>
			<td>11.603.14</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope (surgical)</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td>M525 F40</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microsurgical clamp applying forceps</td>
			<td>Ambler Surgical</td>
			<td>31-906</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microsurgical clamps (x2)&#160;</td>
			<td>Millennium Surgical&#160;</td>
			<td>18-B1V</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microsurgical Dumont #4 forceps&#160;</td>
			<td>Dumont Swiss made&#160;</td>
			<td>1708-4TM-PO</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microsurgical needle holder</td>
			<td>ASSI</td>
			<td>B-14-8</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Needle holder</td>
			<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td>501246</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nosecone for Anesthesia&#160;</td>
			<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td>EZ-112</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pixel analysis software</td>
			<td>GNU Image Manipulation Program v2.10</td>
			<td>GIMP</td>
			<td>GNU Open licence</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PrecisionGlide Needle 27 G</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>305109</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ragnell Scissors&#160;</td>
			<td>Roboz Surgical</td>
			<td>RS-6015</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rimadyl (carprofen)</td>
			<td>Zoetis</td>
			<td>10000319</td>
			<td>This concentration needs to be diluted for rodents</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scientific Elizabethan collar (e-collar) for Rats</td>
			<td>Braintree Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>NC9263311</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Small animal ear tag</td>
			<td>National Band &#38; Tag Company</td>
			<td>Style 1005-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Small Animal Heated Operating Table (Adjustable)&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td>Peco Services Ltd</td>
			<td>69023</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile towel drape</td>
			<td>Dynarex Corporation</td>
			<td>4410</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile water for injection and irrigation&#160;</td>
			<td>Hospira</td>
			<td>0409488724-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical scrub &#8211; BD ChloraPrep Hi-Lite Orange 3 mL applicator with Sterile Solution</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>930415</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>UV lamp</td>
			<td>UVP</td>
			<td>UVL-56</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Webcol Alcohol prep pads&#160;</td>
			<td>Simply Medical</td>
			<td>5110</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

the superficial inferior epigastric artery axial flap to study ischemic preconditioning effects in a rat model

Fasciocutaneous flaps (FCF) have become the gold standard for complex defect reconstruction in plastic and reconstructive surgery. This muscle-sparing technique allows transferring vascularized tissues to cover any large defect. FCF can be used as pedicled flaps or as free flaps; however, in the literature, failure rates for pedicled FCF and free FCF are above 5%, leaving room for improvement for these techniques and further knowledge expansion in this area. Ischemic preconditioning (I.P.) has been widely studied, but the mechanisms and the optimization of the I.P. regimen are yet to be determined. This phenomenon is indeed poorly explored in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Here, a surgical model is presented to study the I.P. regimen in a rat axial fasciocutaneous flap model, describing how to safely and reliably assess the effects of I.P. on flap survival. This article describes the complete surgical procedure, including suggestions to improve the reliability of this model. The objective is to provide researchers with a reproducible and reliable model to test various ischemic preconditioning regimens and assess their effects on flap survivability.

All flaps were viable on POD5, showing good vascularization by the SIEA alone. Figure 5 shows the flap before and after IV fluorescein injection, showing a complete vascularization.
<img alt="Figure 5" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/64980/64980fig05.jpg" /> 
Figure 5: Immediate intravenous fluorescein angiography (POD0). This assessment shows the flap&#39;s vascu...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery Axial Flap to Study Ischemic Preconditioning Effects in a Rat Model at JoVE.com

The Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery Axial Flap to Study Ischemic Preconditioning Effects in a Rat Model

This protocol describes harvesting, suturing, and monitoring fasciocutaneous flaps in rats that allow for good visualization and manipulation of blood flow through the superficial inferior epigastric vessels by means of clamping and ligating the femoral vessels. This is critical for studies involving ischemic preconditioning.

Fasciocutaneous flaps (FCF) have become the gold standard for complex defect reconstruction in plastic and reconstructive surgery. This muscle-sparing ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

Murine Superficial Lymph Node Surgery

In the field of immunology, to understand the progression of an immune response against a vaccine, an infection or a tumour, the response is often ...

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the Dorsal Skin of Hamsters: a Useful Model for the Screening of Antileishmanial Drugs

Traditionally, hamsters are experimentally inoculated in the snout or the footpad. However in these sites an ulcer not always occurs, measurement of ...

An In vitro Model to Study Heterogeneity of Human Macrophage Differentiation and Polarization

An In vitro Model to Study Heterogeneity of Human Macrophage Differentiation and Polarization

Monocyte-derived macrophages represent an important cell type of the innate immune system. Mouse models studying macrophage biology suffer from the ...

Non-Invasive Model of Neuropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection in the Neonatal Rat

Non-Invasive Model of Neuropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection in the Neonatal Rat

Investigation of the interactions between animal host and bacterial pathogen is only meaningful if the infection model employed replicates the principal ...

Human Placental and Decidual Organ Cultures to Study Infections at the Maternal-fetal Interface

The placenta shows a large degree of interspecies anatomic variability. To best understand biology and pathophysiology of the human placenta, it is ...

Implementation of a Permeable Membrane Insert-based Infection System to Study the Effects of Secreted Bacterial Toxins on Mammalian Host Cells

Many bacterial pathogens secrete potent toxins to aid in the destruction of host tissue, to initiate signaling changes in host cells or to manipulate ...

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Particle-bound Bet v 1 Allergen in PM10

Flow cytometry is a method widely used to quantify suspended solids such as cells or bacteria in a size range from 0.5 to several tens of micrometers in ...

Visualizing the Effects of Sputum on Biofilm Development Using a Chambered Coverglass Model

Biofilms consist of groups of bacteria encased in a self-secreted matrix. They play an important role in industrial contamination as well as in the ...

Effects of Exposure of Formaldehyde to a Rat Model of Atopic Dermatitis Induced by Neonatal Capsaicin Treatment

Atopic dermatitis is chronically relapsing pruritic eczema and prevails around the world especially in developed countries. Complex interactions between ...

Stenosis of the Inferior Vena Cava: A Murine Model of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and its devastating complication, pulmonary embolism, are a severe health problem with high mortality. Mechanisms of thrombus ...