title: The effect of rapamycin on the healing of the ureteric anastomosis and wound healing.
abstract: Rapamycin is a potent immunosuppressive agent that also inhibits fibroblastic activity and therefore may affect the healing of various tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rapamycin on wound healing and the healing of the ureteric anastomosis. Large White/Landrace pigs were subjected to a laparotomy and division and immediate anastomosis of the ureter. The animals were randomly allocated to receive either rapamycin or placebo. The animals were sacrificed on postoperative day 5, and strips of the skin and fascia closure and the ureteric anastomosis excised and used to determine the tensile strength, hydroxyproline levels, and histological changes. The tensile strength and the hydroxyproline levels in the ureter and fascia were lower in the rapamycin-treated animals. There was no difference in the tensile strength in the skin, although the hydroxyproline levels were lower. This study shows that healing of the ureteric anastomosis and fascia and skin closure may be impaired by rapamycin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and The Medical Research Council Liver Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. dkahn@uctgsh1.uct.ac.za
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Spearman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mall
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Engelbrecht
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lotz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tyler
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013552:Swine; D014513:Ureter / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D020123:Sirolimus