title: Fresh muscle fiber fragments on a scaffold in rats-a new concept in urogynecology?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate if a synthetic, biodegradable scaffold with either autologous in vitro cultured muscle-derived cells or autologous fresh muscle fiber fragments could be used for tissue repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty scaffolds with muscle-derived cells and 20 scaffolds with muscle fiber fragments were implanted subcutaneously on the abdomen of rats, 2 in each rat, and examined after 3 weeks (10 of each preparation) and 8 weeks (10 of each preparation). Immonohistochemistry and histopathology was undertaken for assessment of growth pattern and biocompatibility, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 3 weeks, both muscle-derived cells and muscle fiber fragments could be identified. At 8 weeks, the muscle fiber fragments generated fragmented, striated muscle tissue in 6 of 10 explants, whereas the muscle-derived cells and all scaffolds had vanished.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autologous fresh muscle fiber fragments on a biodegradable scaffold seem useful for tissue repair. This study introduces a promising new concept with possible implications for the surgical reconstruction of pelvic organ prolapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boennelycke
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Lene F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Soren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gräs
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lose
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005260:Female; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials