OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of adipose stromal vascular fraction cells (SVFs) on the survival rate of fat transplantation.

METHODS0. 5 ml autologous fat tissue was mixed with: 1) Di-labeled autologous SVFs ( Group A); 2) Di-labeled autologous adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) (Group B); 3)Complete DMEM (Group C). And then the mixture was injected randomly under the back skin of 14 rabbits. The transplanted fat tissue in three groups was harvested at 6 months after implantation. Wet weight of fat grafts was measured for macroscopic aspects. After HE staining, blood vessel density, viable adipocytes and fibrous proliferation were counted respectively for histological evaluation. Trace of DiI-labeled ASCs in vivo was detected by fluorescent microscope.

RESULTSThe wet weight of fat grafts in group A (291.0 +/- 72.1) mg and group B (269.3 +/- 67.3) mg was significantly higher than that in group C (177.8 +/- 60.0) mg, but the difference between Group A and Group B was not significant. Histological analysis revealed that the fat grafts in group A and B was consisted predominantly of adipose tissue with less fat necrosis and fibrosis, compared with the fat grafts in group C. The grafts in both group A and B had significantly higher capillary density than those in the control group. Part of vascular endothelial cells were observed to origin from ectogenic DiI-labeled SVFs and ASCs.

CONCLUSIONSThe autologous isolated SVFs has a similar effect as autologous cultured ASCs to improve the survival rate of fat transplantation. And the former is more practical and safe, indicating a wide clinical application in the future.