BACKGROUND:The nature of graft rejective reaction is the antigen immunological reaction of recipient’s immune system in response to donor’s graft.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of chemical extraction on the immunogenicity of acellular peripheral urethral isografts.
METHODS:Twenty urethras of Sprague-Dawley rats, 1 cm long, were included in this study. Ten urethras were treated with chemical acellular method to remove immunogenic component, thus prepared into acellular urethras;another ten urethras were fresh, without any acellular treatment. Acellular urethras were implanted into the back of ten Wistar rats, while fresh urethras into another ten rats. 6 weeks after transplantation, the specimens were harvested for gross and histological observations.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After acellular or fresh urethras were implanted into the rats, no autotomy was observed, the incision healed wel , the diet and activities of the rat were normal, and no ulcer formation was found. At 6 weeks, tissue membrane formed around the acellular urethra, while no formation was visible around fresh urethra by gross observation. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that, acellular urethras were gradual y absorbed and replaced by smooth muscular tissue. And unequal blood vessels grew in the acellular urethra, even formed blood sinusoid. In the control group, the urethras were not absorbed and no blood vessels were grown. The acellular urethras can gradual y form normal urethra in rats, indicating that the acellular urethral autograft has a lower antigenicity and can replace the cavernous body of normal urethra.