The vascular evolution of an extended flap on the dorsum of rats and the potential involvement of MMP-2 and MMP-9

- We first adopt the panoramic photographing technique and the dorsal skinfold technique together for image capturing.
- We first examine ultrastructural change of choke vessels after flap harvest.
- We first examine both the location and quantity of expression, and activity of MMP2 and 9 during choke vessel dilation.
- We first examine the denervation process in the choke region after flap harvest.
- We first propose the detailed venous drainage path after flap harvest.