The histology and immunohistochemistry of free buccal mucosa and full-skingrafts after exposure to urine

Objective. To investigate the histological and immunohistochemical behaviou r of free buccal mucosa and full-skin grafts after exposure to urine. Materials and methods. A buccal mucosal graft and a fun-skin graft were fre ely transferred into the bladder of 12 minipigs, after stripping the bladde r mucosa. Endoscopic investigations were carried out 2 and 5 months after s urgery, and the grafts examined after death at 7 months, both histologicall y and immunohistochemically. Results. Shrinkage of the full-skin graft was apparent endoscopically in fi ve cases. Of the nine full-skin grafts, four showed severe inflammatory rea ctions, two necrosis and two ulcerations. Conversely, the 10 buccal mucosal grafts bad fewer pathological findings (three minimal inflammation and thr ee with scars) and a pronounced similarity on immunohistochemistry. Conclusion. The buccal mucosal graft showed significantly fewer adverse his topathological findings after long-term exposure to urine than the full-ski n graft and is therefore a preferable material for urethral reconstruction.