The use of collagen content as determined by spectral domain polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography to assess colon anastomosis healing in a rat model.
OBJECTIVE
Many studies have been undertaken to prevent anastomosis leakage of the colon, and several methods have been used to assess anastomosis healing, such as measurement of bursting pressure or hydroxyproline (a marker of collagen) content at the anastomosis site. However, these methods are inappropriate for comparing anastomosis healing at two time points in the same animals. In the present study, we measured the collagen level by spectral domain polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (SD-PS-OCT) to assess anastomosis healing.


METHODS
Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into groups C (saline-administered controls; study group) and M [a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-administered experimental group]. Immediately after end-to-end anastomosis of the colon, SD-PS-OCT images of anastomoses were taken (baseline). Animals were administered saline or 5-FU for 7 days. On the 7th postoperative day, SD-PS-OCT images were acquired, a histopathologic exam was performed, and hydroxyproline levels as well as mRNA expressions of collagen-1 and collagen-3 were measured at the anastomosis site.


RESULTS
Fibroblast proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration were greater in group C than in group M. The mRNA expressions of collagen-1 and collagen-3 were substantially higher in group C. Hydroxyproline levels were higher in group M than in group C. Though collagen levels measured by SD-PS-OCT at 7 days were elevated compared with baseline in group C, no such changes were observed for group M.


CONCLUSIONS
Collagen levels at the colon anastomosis site, measured with SD-PS-OCT, were not increased at 7 days postoperatively versus baseline when 5-FU was injected, but were increased in saline-treated controls. The measurement of collagen content by SD-PS-OCT was found to provide a good means of assessing anastomosis healing, because it allows in situ assessment of collagen contents at baseline and during the postoperative period.
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea.
K H
KH
Son
H-W
HW
Jeong
W-W
WW
Jung
H-S
HS
Kim
S K
SK
Lee
K T
KT
Kim
C B
CB
Ahn
K Y
KY
Park
B-M
BM
Kim
S H
SH
Lee
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000235:genetics; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003094:Collagen; D006909:Hydroxyproline; D005472:Fluorouracil