title: Free ureteral replacement in rats: regeneration of ureteral wall components in the acellular matrix graft.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate ureteral replacement by a free homologous graft of acellular matrix in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats, a 0.3 to 0.8-cm midsegment of the left ureter was resected and replaced with an acellular matrix graft of equal length placed on a polyethylene stent. The animals were killed at varying intervals, and the grafted specimens were prepared for light and electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all animals, the acellular matrix graft remained in its original position without evidence of incrustation or infection, and histologic examination showed complete epithelialization and progressive infiltration by vessels. At 10 weeks, smooth muscle fibers were observed; at 12 weeks, nerve fibers were first detected; at 4 months, smooth muscle cells had assumed regular configuration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ureteral acellular matrix graft appears to promote the regeneration of all ureteral wall components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Dahms
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Piechota
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dahiya
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lue
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Tanagho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012038:Regeneration; D014513:Ureter / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure