Mojtaba Karimipour - Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Gholam Hossein Farjah - Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Morteza Hassanzadeh - Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Masoumeh Zirak Javanmard - Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran

Skin flap necrosis has been remained as an unsolved problem in plastic and reconstructive surgeries. Here, we explored the effects of metformin post-treatment on random skin flap survival in rats. An ۸.۰۰ × ۲.۰۰ cm dorsal skin flap was created in ۲۴ rats and they were then divided into three groups (n = ۸) including Control, metformin (Met) ۵۰.۰۰ mg kg-۱ and Met ۱۰۰ mg kg-۱. All animals were administrated orally until seven days after flap surgery. Flap survival, the number of blood vessels and mast cells in the flap tissues were analyzed. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression levels in flap tissues was also determined using immunohistochemical methods. The percentage of survival area in Met ۵۰.۰۰ mg kg-۱ and Met ۱۰۰ mg kg-۱ groups were significantly higher compared to control. The blood vessel density and the VEGF positive cells in the viable areas of flaps showed a significant increase in Met ۵۰.۰۰ mg kg-۱ group compared to control group. The results of this study suggested that treatment with metformin, especially with low dose following skin flap surgery was effective in improving the flap survival and increasing the neovascularization in the flaps tissues of rats.

Metformin, Rat, Skin Flap, Survival, vascular endothelial growth factor