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Abstract

The abdominal wall reconstruction with fresh swim bladder, a cellular swim bladder and autografts after creating an abdominal wall defect of 3x4cm was performed in rabbits and the biocompatibility of the grafts were studied. The study revealed no adhesions, herniation and eventration in the acellular graft group where as minimal adhesions in the fresh graft and autograft groups. Neovascularization on the peritoneal side of the graft at the reconstructive site was seen by day 14 in all the groups. Histologically all the sections showed inflammatory cells, like neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages, at the host graft interface, marked fibroblastic activity towards subcutaneous layer with the formation of thin fibrous tissue and neocapillaries on the peritoneal side on 14th postoperative day. Acellular graft and autograft groups showed early mesothelialization on the peritoneal side of the graft on 7th day which prevented adhesion formation with visceral organs where as in fresh graft group mesothelialization was noticed on 14th postoperative day. Absence of foreign body giant cells and tissue reaction suggested the biocompatibility of the both fresh and acellular swim bladders with the host tissue.