Protective Effect of Locally Injected Polydeoxyribonucleotide in Ischemic Murine Random Skin Flaps

Abstract

Background and Objectives This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) against skin flap necrosis in a murine skin flap model.Materials and Method Twenty mice with rectangular skin flaps on the dorsum were randomly divided into the PDRN (n=10) and pentobarbital sodium (PBS) (n=10) injection groups. PDRN (8 mg/kg) was subdermally injected at 12 different points immediately after the operation. After 7 days, the flap perfusions were evaluated using a laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) system, and specimens were collected for immunohistochemistry analysis.Results The percentage of survival area relative to the total flap area was significantly higher in the PDRN group (60.87%±7.63%) than in the PBS group (45.23%±10.72%) (<i>p</i><0.05). The mean LSCI perfusion signal of the distal part of the skin flap in the PBS group was 0.57±0.12, and that in the PDRN group was 0.74±0.13 (<i>p</i><0.05). The PDRN group had a significantly lower interleukin 1 beta expression than the PBS group and higher vascular endothelial growth factor α expression than the PBS group (<i>p</i><0.05).Conclusion These findings suggest that subdermally injected PDRN is more effective in enhancing flap survival during necrosis.