Myofascial flap without skin for intra-oral reconstruction. 1: Animal studies.
BACKGROUND
Although myofascial flaps are already used clinically in intra-oral reconstruction, the source and process of epithelialization remain unclear.


METHODS
The process of epithelialization of grafted myofascia in the oral cavity was investigated using the latissimus dorsi muscle of Wistar strain rats.


RESULTS
The use of myofascial tissue to fill in defects may maintain the space by preventing shrinkage and contracture of the wound, and this myofascial tissue may induce regeneration of the mucosal epithelium. Myofascia itself did not have the potential to epithelialize. Epithelialization progressed gradually along the surface of the granulated myofascia from the surrounding incised mucosal margin of the recipient site to the central portion. Immunohistochemical staining showed that keratinocyte growth factor-expressing cells were found mainly in the granulated myofascia. Within the study period, regenerated epithelium with orthokeratosis consisting of stratified squamous cells was thin and had scanty rete pegs, but it was similar to normal epithelium.


CONCLUSIONS
Grafted myofascia in the oral cavity may play a space-making role, and induce regeneration of the mucosal epithelium, associated with the production of keratinocyte growth factor.
Wada
T
T
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Wakayama Medical College, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan.
Okamoto
K
K
Nakanishi
Y
Y
Iwagami
Y
Y
Morita
N
N
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004848:Epithelium; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014945:Wound Healing
C496455:Fgf7 protein, rat; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors