Early demonstration of postoperative adhesions in a rodent model.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the cellular and molecular mechanisms of postoperative adhesion development in a rodent model.


METHODS
Prospective randomized controlled study.


METHODS
Research laboratory.


METHODS
Thirty sexually mature female Sprague-Dawley rats.


METHODS
Cecal abrasion.


METHODS
At 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48, 72, 96, 168, 336, and 504 hours after cecal abrasion, one to three rats were sacrificed (n = 26). Four nonabraded rats served as controls. Peritoneal adhesion status was evaluated and tissue was collected for histologic and immunohistochemical investigation.


RESULTS
Postoperative tissue attachments were identified as early as 2 hours after cecal abrasion. Significant local edema and vessel congestion appeared within 2 hours, and cellular proliferation was observed at 24 hours; angiogenesis and tissue proliferation remained present at 2 weeks. beta1 integrin was highly expressed early and was thereafter decreased. Cellular fibronectin was not detectable until 1 week after cecal abrasion.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative adhesions are initiated as rapidly as 2 hours after surgical intervention in this rodent model.
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
Frank D
FD
Yelian
Valerie I
VI
Shavell
Michael P
MP
Diamond
D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000601:surgery; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D039641:Integrin beta Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
D005353:Fibronectins; D039641:Integrin beta Chains