Tissue-engineering with muscle fiber fragments improves the strength of a weak abdominal wall in rats. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jangö, Hanna; Gräs, Søren; Christensen, Lise; Lose, Gunnar
• Is Part Of: International urogynecology journal. Volume 28:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 223
• Page End: 229
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Autologous muscle fiber fragments -- Biodegradable scaffold -- Pelvic organ prolapse -- Rats -- Regenerative medicine -- Tissue-engineering; Urogynecology -- Periodicals; Generative organs, Female -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.60082
• DOI: 10.1007/s00192-016-3091-8
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0937-3462

Abstract

Abstract Introduction and hypothesis Alternative approaches to reinforce the native tissue in patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) are needed to improve surgical outcome. Our aims were to develop a weakened abdominal wall in a rat model to mimic the weakened vaginal wall in women with POP and then evaluate the regenerative potential of a quickly biodegradable synthetic scaffold, methoxypolyethylene glycol polylactic-co-glycolic acid (MPEG-PLGA), seeded with autologous muscle fiber fragments (MFFs) using this model. Methods In an initial pilot study with 15 animals, significant weakening of the abdominal wall and a feasible technique was established by creating a partial defect with removal of one abdominal muscle layer. Subsequently, 18 rats were evenly divided into three groups: (1) unrepaired partial defect; (2) partial defect repaired with MPEG-PLGA; (3) partial defect repaired with MPEG-PLGA and MFFs labeled with PKH26-fluorescence dye. After 8 weeks, we performed histopathological and immunohistochemical testing, fluorescence analysis, and uniaxial biomechanical testing. Results Both macroscopically and microscopically, the MPEG-PLGA scaffold was fully degraded, with no signs of an inflammatory or foreign-body response. PKH26-positive cells were found in all animals from the group with added MFFs. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant difference between groups with respect to load at failure (p = 0.028), and post hoc testing revealed that the group with MPEG-PLGA and MFFs showed a significantly higher strength than the group with MPEG-PLGA alone (p = 0.034). Conclusion Tissue-engineering with MFFs seeded on a scaffold of biodegradable MPEG-PLGA might be an interesting adjunct to future POP repair.