Seroma formation is one of the most common complications after
modified radical mastectomy.
Sapylin is an agent used to reduce
seroma formation following
breast cancer surgery. In this article, we aimed to identify the potential mechanism by which
Sapylin reduced
seroma formation. Thirty-six female C57 mice were randomly divided into three groups. All mice were anaesthetized and a skin flap was generated on their abdomens. Each group was treated with
normal saline, 0.5 KE/ml of
Sapylin, or 50% hypertonic
glucose, respectively. On day 3 and day 7 after the surgery, six mice in each group were sacrificed. Skin flap samples were collected and markers of angiogenesis,
collagen synthesis, fibroplasia and matrix remodeling were detected. The skin flaps from the
Sapylin- or hypertonic
glucose-treated mice closed faster than the skin flaps from the mice treated with
normal saline. The neovessel density was higher in the skin flaps from the mice in the
Sapylin group than those in the other two groups. Increased
mRNA and
protein expression of angiogenesis markers (VEGF-A and HIF-1α) and
collagen synthesis markers (
FGF2 and TGF-β1) were observed in the mice in the
Sapylin group compared with the saline- or hypertonic
glucose-treated mice. The extracellular matrix remodeling marker MMP2 was induced by
Sapylin only in the early phase (day 3). In conclusion,
Sapylin accelerated
wound closure, and promoted angiogenesis,
collagen synthesis and the remodeling process, which improved wound healing. Considering the close relationship between wound healing and
seroma formation,
Sapylin may reduce
seroma formation after
modified radical mastectomy.