Reconstruction of abdominal wall defects with glutaraldehyde treated xenogenic acellular dermal graft in rabbits: Clinical, immunological and haemato-biochemical studies

Abstract

The present study was conducted on 12 clinically healthy New Zealand white rabbits of either sex divided into groups 1 and 2, consisting of 8 and 4 animals, respectively. Under thiopental sodium (2.5%) anaesthesia a full thickness abdominal wall defect (2 cm x 3 cm) was created in group 1 and repaired with glutaraldehyde treated acellular dermal graft (G-ADG), whereas in group 2 linear abdominal incision was repaired with nylon suture. The animals were evaluated clinically, immunologically and haemato-biochetnically. Mild pain, warmth, exudation and swelling were observed in animals of both groups. However, the intensity was more in animals of group 1. The G-ADG showed very little immune response in rabbits. Significant (P&lt0.05) neutrophilia, hyperglycemia and lymphopenia were observed up to 7 days in both the groups. A gradual increase in collagen, hydroxyproline, elastin, zinc and copper, was observed in both the groups for 14-30 days, whereas, hexosamine contents decreased up to 30th day.