Abstract
The effects of a single topical dose of angiotensin II (AII) on prelamination of flaps were investigated in rats using an immunohistochemical marker. Ninety rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 30 in each). The control group were given nothing; the vehicle group were given only carboxymethyl cellulose, and the treatment group were given topical AII with carboxymethyl cellulose between the flap and the skin graft. According to the day of evaluation of vascularisation, each group was randomly divided into three sub‐groups on days 4, 7, and 14 (n = 10 in each). Paraffin sections of the tissues were cut at the flap‐graft interface and stained immunohistochemically with factor VIII‐related antigen (FVIIIRAg). Capillaries and venules that stained were counted. The number of vessels in the groups on day 4 were similar, but by day 7 the number of vessels was significantly greater in the treatment group than the other two. The number of vessels in the treatment group on day 14 was greater than in the other two groups, but not significantly so. We conclude that a single topical dose of AII increases the vascularisation at the flap and skin graft interface by angiogenesis.