[Application of silk fibroin film for repairing rabbit urethral defect].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of silk fibroin film for repairing urethral defect in rabbits.


METHODS
Twenty-four male New Zealand rabbits were randomized into experimental group, control group I and control group II. In the experimental group, a urethral defect of 1.5 cm was induced in the 12 rabbits and repaired with silk fibroin film. The 6 rabbits in control group I without the surgically induced defect served as the sham operation group, and in control group II consisting of 6 rabbits the urethral defect of 1.5 cm was induced without repair. Histological observation and immunohistochemistry were conducted to examine the regenerative segments of the urethra at regular time points between 2 and 16 weeks postoperatively.


RESULTS
The 12 rabbits in the experimental group did not show signs of urethral stricture following the surgery. The implanted silk fibroin film for defect repair was degraded completely at 16 weeks and the defect was repaired with smooth urethral mucous membrane lining and orderly arranged smooth muscle cells. Immunohistochemistry identified the cells lining the defect area as the urethral epithelial cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Silk fibroin film can promote the repair of urethral defect by inducing the growth of the urethral epithelial cells and smooth muscle cells.
Liu
Chun-Xiao
CX
Department of Urinary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China. Liuchx888@hotmail.com
Lin
Yang-Yan
YY
Li
Hu-Lin
HL
Zheng
Shao-Bo
SB
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry*; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012038:Regeneration; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014521:Urethra / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D047011:Silk; C482288:fibroin, silkworm; D005349:Fibroins