Objective To study the effect of macrophage, its stimulating factor, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), the combination of GM-CSF and macrophage on the survival of rat deep epigastric perforator flap (DEP). Methods The stable animal model of DEP flap in Sprague-Dawley rat mimicing human deep inferior epigastric perforator flap in breast reconstruction was established. The rats were treated with subcutaneous injection of recombined rat GM-CSF or rat peritoneal macrophages, respectively, or combination of GM-CSF/ Macrophages. Normal saline was used as parallel negative control. The rats were sacrificed and flap specimens were harvested on day 7 after operation, the flaps survival area were measured by the method of rubbings and the survival proportion of flaps were calculated, Von Will brand factor were detected by immunohistochemistry and microvessel density (MVD), and were calculated with microscopic study, and collagen were stained and quantified by Masson staining. Results Survival proportion of flaps in group GM-CSF (53.08% ± 8. 76% ) was not different with that in macrophages group (47. 95% ± 4. 92% ), and both of these two groups were significantly higher than parallel negative control group (43.28% ± 5.27% ) but significantly lower than combination GM-CSF/ macrophages group ( 61.68% ± 6. 60% ). For MVD, flap in GM-CSF group ( 24. 82 ± 4. 18 ) was not significantly different with macrophages group (24.30 ± 3.02 ), and both of these two groups were significantly higher than group parallel negative control (21.37 ± 2.65 ) but significantly lower than combination GM-CSF/macrophages group ( 29. 82 ± 4. 74). Collagen deposition in the flaps in GM-CSF group (17. 25% ± 2. 85% ) were significantly higher than parallel negative control group (14.41% ± 2. 89% ), macrophages group ( 12. 69% ± 3.55% ) were lower than parallel negative control group but there was no significant difference. That in combination GM-CSF/macrophages group (20.31% ± 3.01% )was significantly higher than GM-CSF group ( P < 0. 05 ). Conclusion Treatment with rat GM-CSF or macrophage can significantly promote the survival of the flaps. Combined application of GM-CSF and macrophage could synergetically promote the survival of the flaps, the vasculogenesis and the collagen deposition.