Collagen scaffold: a treatment for simulated maternal birth injury in the rat model.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

We sought to determine the impact of a collagen scaffold on the healing response after simulated birth injury in a rodent model.

STUDY DESIGN:

A total of 52 virgin animals were divided into the following groups: control (n = 18), injured untreated (n = 18), and injured treated with porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) (n = 16). Histopathology, immunofluorescence of collagens, and vaginal mechanical properties were used to assess the impact of injury and the subsequent healing response.

RESULTS:

Collagen I/V decreased by 44% after birth injury relative to the controls (P = .001). Birth injury resulted in inferior mechanical properties of the vagina with a decrease of 38% in the tangent modulus and 44% in the tensile strength. SIS improved the collagen I/V and I/III ratios by 28% and 46%, respectively, paralleling the trend in the mechanical properties.

CONCLUSION:

Simulated birth injury negatively affected vaginal biochemical and biomechanical properties long term. SIS treatment mitigated the impact of birth injury by enhancing tissue quality.

• Authors: Marianna Alperin, Andrew Feola, Leslie Meyn, Robert Duerr, Steven Abramowitch, Pamela Moalli
• Journal: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (Am J Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 202 Issue 6 Pg. 589.e1-8 (Jun 2010) ISSN: 1097-6868 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20510960 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2010 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Biocompatible Materials
• Collagen

Topics

• Animals
• Biocompatible Materials
• Collagen (metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique
• Rats
• Rats, Long-Evans
• Stress, Mechanical
• Tissue Scaffolds
• Vagina (injuries)
• Wound Healing (physiology)