Jejunal Flap as an In Vivo Vascular Carrier for Transplanted Adipose Tissue

Abstract

Few manuscripts describe the construction of an adipose tissue composite flap able to create an in vivo microenvironment and a neovasculature that can grow with and service implanted adipose tissue. Creation of an in vivo vascular carrier and tissue chamber for volume-stable transplanted adipose tissue was attempted using jejunum segments with intact circulation in 18 male Wistar rats. Intestinal segments were filled with autologous adipose tissue. Histologic (hematoxylin-eosin), immunohistochemical (antibodies to leptin and to vascular endothelial growth factor) and ultrastructural analyses were used to evaluate the results at 6, 18, and 60 days after surgery. Macroscopic observation confirmed the feasibility of this prefabricated adipose tissue flap: no loss of weight or volume occurred at any time point. Histologic analysis showed normal morphologic features of transplanted adipose tissue. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed the vitality of adipose tissue and the presence of a microvascular network within the flap. Small intestinal segments denuded of the mucosal layer can support in vivo transplanted adipose tissue.

Ex Vivo Prefabricated Rat Skin Flap Using Cell Sheets and an Arteriovenous Vascular Bundle

“…Regenerating new vessels is difficult compared with the convenience of utilizing a preexisting vascular carrier. To date, there have been many reports on using a vascular carrier in vivo, such as fat tissue, 15 jejunum, 16 arteriovenous shunt loop, 17 and bundle. 18 Referring to these reports, we performed preliminary experiments and prepared various rat models (data not shown).…”