Effect of Human Placental Extract Treatment on Random-Pattern Skin Flap Survival in Rats

ABSTRACTBackground: Human placental extract (HPE), prepared from the placentas of healthy, postpartum females, displays various physiological activities, including antioxidative properties. In this study, a dorsal skin flap model was used to investigate the effect of HPE on flap viability in rats. Materials and methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent random-pattern skin flap surgeries. The animals were randomly divided among a control group and three treatment groups (localized injection (LI), 10 mg/kg/d localized HPE injections; low-dose treatment (LT), 10 mg/kg/d systemic HPE injections; high-dose treatment (HT), 40 mg/kg/d systemic HPE injections). Surviving skin flap areas were measured 7 days after surgery and tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin; vascular endothelial growth factor expression was determined immunohistochemically. To evaluate the antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects of HPE, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, and caspase-3 levels were examined. Result...