Application of Acellular Tissue Matrix for Enhancement of Weak Abdominal Wall in Animal Model

Abstract

Background. Abdominal wall weakness occurs when the strength of muscle decreases due to physiological reason or iatrogenic injury. However, the treatment of this disease is complicated. Aim. To study the therapeutic effect of acellular tissue matrix (ACTM), compared with the polypropylene mesh. Methods. An abdominal wall weakness model was established in rabbits through motor nerves cutting. The polypropylene mesh and ACTM were implanted in the left and right abdomen sides, respectively. Mechanical testing of abdominal wall muscle and histology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evaluation of abdominal tissue explants were performed. Results. In animal model establishment, the abdominal length of healthy and weakened abdominal wall was 17.0 ± 0.7 cm and 19.0 ± 1.2 cm, respectively (P=0.022), and the weak abdominal wall group showed a significant decrease of 1.116 ± 0.221 MPa in tensile stress (P<0.001) and 9.126 ± 2.073% in tensile strain (P<0.001). In materials implantation experiment, compared with polypropylene group, ACTM group decreased 2.409 ± 0.806 MPa after 24 weeks (P<0.001) and 2.319 ± 0.486 MPa after 48 weeks (P<0.001) in tensile stress and increased 15.259% after 24 weeks (P<0.001) and 15.845% after 48 weeks (P<0.001) remarkably in tensile strain. Conclusion. The abdominal wall weakness model in rabbits was successfully established. ACTM is a promising biological material to be possibly further applied in clinical surgery in patients with abdominal wall weakness.