Histology of abdominal incisions in rabbit - in vivo experiment with incorporation of PCL and PCL/PVA-based artificial meshes enriched with PRP
Abstract
Using quantitative histology, the fraction of type I collagen, the fraction of actin-positive myofibroblasts, and the density of CD31-positive microvessel profiles were compared in samples of healing abdominal wall in rabbit. In two groups, the healing was supported by combinations of PCL+PRP or PCL/PVA+PRP artificial tissue-engineered meshes.
The third group was healing spontaneously. No quantitative differences in type I collagen fraction, myofibroblasts, or microvessel density were found when comparing all the groups under study.
Qualitatively, the incision supported with scaffolds formed a more regularly arranged wound with more equally distributed collagen than found in samples without scaffolds. Under both types of scaffolds, granular connective tissue with many microvessels and collagen formation was found.
The remnants of the PCL+PRP scaffolds showed a better integration of newly formed collagen than the PCL/PVA+PRP scaffolds. However, similar total amounts of collagen were found in the healing incisions supported with both types of scaffolds.
The inflammatory cells found adjacent to the scaffolds were relatively rare and formed no foci weakening the wall.