RABBIT URETHRAL REGENERATION USING SMALL-INTESTINAL SUBMUCOSA ONLAY GRAFTS

Objectives. To determine if small intestinal submucosa (SIS) can evoke urethral regeneration. Methods. Twenty male white New Zealand rabbits were assigned to one of three experimental groups. Group 1 (n = 4) un derwent simple urethrotomy and closure. Group 2 (n = 8), a second cont rol group, underwent an onlay urethroplasty with a graft of full-thick ness preputial skin from the host rabbit. Group 3 (n = 8) underwent an onlay urethroplasty with an SIS graft. Results. All eight SIS onlay g rafts promoted regeneration of the normal rabbit epithelium supported by a well-vascularized collagen and smooth muscle backing. Preputial f ree onlay grafts maintained a keratinizing squamous cell epithelium wi th a poor supportive backing, which resulted in the formation of ureth ral diverticulum. Conclusions. SIS onlay patch grafts for urethroplast y promote rabbit urethral regeneration. (C) 1998, Elsevier Science Inc . All rights reserved.