Immunohistochemical evaluation of fibrillar components of the extracellular matrix of transversalis fascia and anterior abdominal rectus sheath in men with inguinal hernia.
OBJECTIVE
to evaluate the role of fibrillar extracellular matrix components in the pathogenesis of inguinal hernias.


METHODS
samples of the transverse fascia and of the anterior sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle were collected from 40 men aged between 20 and 60 years with type II and IIIA Nyhus inguinal hernia and from 10 fresh male cadavers (controls) without hernia in the same age range. The staining technique was immunohistochemistry for collagen I, collagen III and elastic fibers; quantification of fibrillar components was performed with an image analysis processing software.


RESULTS
no statistically significant differences were found in the amount of elastic fibers, collagen I and collagen III, and the ratio of collagen I / III among patients with inguinal hernia when compared with subjects without hernia.


CONCLUSIONS
the amount of fibrillar extracellular matrix components did not change in patients with and without inguinal hernia.
Unifoa, Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Rogério de Oliveira
Rde O
Gonçalves
Unifoa, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Evandro
E
de Moraes e Silva
EPM, UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Gaspar de Jesus
Gde J
Lopes Filho
D000328:Adult; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000473:pathology*; D005205:Fascia / Q000473:pathology*; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult