Evaluation of inflammatory responses to different implants in experimental model of fetal wounds

Abstract

Aim: Fetal wound healing differs dramatically from adult tissue repair, especially with the characteristic of minimal inflammation response and scarless healing. However in recent studies, it has also been shown that fetal wound healing can change to adult type in some conditions. In this study, the effects of different prosthetic materials on fetal wound healing and proliferation of fetal fibroblasts were evaluated. Method: In this experimental study, the skin of the fetal rabbit was excised 0.5×0.5 cm in size on the 23±1 day of gestation. In group 1 (control group), the excised skin was sutured in the same place. In group 2, an inorganic material (goretex patch) was sutured inplace of the excised skin. In group 3, an organic material (skin patch excised from another sibling fetus) was sutured inplace of the excised skin. All groups (n:16) were divided into two subgroups depending on the time of evaluation (24th and 72nd hours, subgroups a and b) The macroscopic scale, microscopic scale and PCNA (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen) index of the fibroblasts were evaluated. Results: Evaluation of macroscopic scales revealed that the scores were higher in group 2 in subgroups a and b. The differences were significant between the groups 1a and 1b and 1b and 2b and 2b and 3b. Microscopically the scores were also higher in group 2 and the differences were significant between the groups 1b and 2b and 2b and 3b. The highest PCNA scores were also found in group2. Conclusion: In this study, the presence of prosthetic material in fetal wound increases fetal inflammatory response resembling adult type healing depending on the duration and type of material used. Goretex resulted in the highest response between these groups. The increase of fetal fibroblastic PCNA was in accordance with the degree of adult type inflammatory response.