Background: This study was to evaluate the feasibility of using an acellular bovine pericardium fixed with genipin (AGP) to repair an abdominal wall defect created in a rat model.
Materials and methods: The glutaraldehyde-fixed acellular pericardium (AGA), the genipin-fixed cellular pericardium (GP), and a commercially available polypropylene mesh were used as controls.
Results: Gross examination at 3-month post-operatively revealed that dense adhesions to the visceral organs were observed for the polypropylene mesh and the AGA patch, while a filmy to dense adhesion was seen for the GP patch. In contrast, no adhesion to the visceral organs was observed for the AGP patch. Histologically, inflammatory cells were found mainly surrounding the GP patch. In contrast, host cells (inflammatory cells, fibroblasts, and neo-capillaries) were able to infiltrate into the AGA and AGP patches. Unlike the AGA patch, the AGP patch retrieved at 1-month post-operatively became well integrated with the host tissue near the suture line. Additionally, there were some mesothelial cells, identified by the van Gieson stain, observed on the AGP patch. At 3-month post-operatively, a neo-peritoneum was observed on the AGP patch. The neo-peritoneum consisted of organized vascularized connective tissues covered by an intact layer of mesothelial cells. The calcium contents of the polypropylene mesh and the AGA patch increased significantly at 3-month post-operatively, while those of the GP and AGP patches stayed minimal throughout the entire course of the study.
Conclusions: The results obtained in the study revealed that the AGP patch effectively repaired abdominal wall defects in rats and successfully prevented the formation of post-surgical abdominal adhesions.