[Histological changes after the recontruction of tongue defect with rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal flap].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the cellular morphological and histological changes of the reconstructed tongue defect by rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal flap of dogs with or without nerve.


METHODS
12 Beagle dogs were randomly divided into two groups. Group A made rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal flap with the intercostal nerve while group B without the intercostal nerve. Nerve anastomosis was performed in Group A while not in Group B in the repairment. 12 weeks later, the length, width, surface area and cellular morphology and histological changes of the two transfer flaps were observed.


RESULTS
The length, width, surface area of transplanted rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal flaps in group A were greater than those in Group B, and the differences were statistically significant at 12th week (P < 0.01). The microscope study found that the transplanted rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal flaps of group A had part of muscle fiber atrophy with some connective and adipose tissue, loose muscle fiber arrangement, while the transplanted rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal flaps of Group B had muscle cells atrophy with some adipocyte. The structure of muscle cells in Group A was basically normal, but it was disorder in Group B. The type II muscle fibers of Group B was atrophy and substituted by a lot of connective tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
After tongue defect reconstructed by rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal flap with nerve, the changes of muscle fibers could be similar to tongue muscles, providing a basis for the dynamic recovery of the tongue.
Deptartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China.
Jun
J
Li
Deptartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China.
Liang-Jun
LJ
Zhong
Deptartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi 830001, China.
Hetaer-Huojia
HH
Mu
Deptartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi 830001, China.
Li-Kun
LK
Duo
Deptartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi 830001, China.
Guang-Peng
GP
Yan
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005927:Glossectomy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000637:transplantation*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000294:innervation; D014059:Tongue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*