Successful anatomic repair of fetoscopic access sites in the mid-gestational rabbit model using amnion cell engineering.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to evaluate the impact of in vitro cultured amnion cells, injected and/or seeded in different scaffolds, on in vivo fetal membrane repair.


METHODS
Amnion cells, isolated from allogeneic fetal membranes, were cultured on three different scaffolds for 14 to 21 days. In 33 mid-gestational rabbits, fetoscopic access sites were randomly allocated to four closure study groups: conventional collagen plug, as well as collagen plug, collagen foil, and fibrin glue as scaffolds for the cultured amnion cells. All membrane access sites were sealed with fibrin glue, and the myometrium closed with sutures. Fetal survival, amnion membrane integrity, and the presence of amniotic fluid were evaluated one week later.


RESULTS
Cultures showed good survival in the collagen scaffolds. The use of collagen plug as a scaffold for the in vitro cultured amnion cells improved the integrity of fetal membranes to 80%, better than that of any other study group.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the need for additional studies, the present data suggest that amnion cells can be a practical and important source of cells for the engineering of constructs for sealing of the fetal membrane.
Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, D-81675 Munich, Germany. n.papadopulos@lrz.tu-muenchen.de
Nikolaos A
NA
Papadopulos
Dimitrios I
DI
Kyriakidis
Ulrike
U
Schillinger
Antonios
A
Totis
Julia
J
Henke
Laszlo
L
Kovacs
Raymund E
RE
Horch
K T M
KT
Schneider
Hans-Günther
HG
Machens
Edgar
E
Biemer
D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000628:therapy*; D005332:Fetoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D006085:Graft Survival; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D003094:Collagen