ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of tissue engineered periosteum on the repair of large diaphysis defect in rabbit radius, and the effect of deproteinized bone (DPB) as supporting scaffolds of tissue engineering periosteum. MethodsBone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were cultured from 1-month-old New Zealand Rabbit and osteogenetically induced into osteoblasts. Porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) scaffold was produced by decellular and a series mechanical and physiochemical procedures. Then tissue engineered periosteum was constructed by combining osteogenic BMSCs and SIS, and then the adhesion of cells to scaffolds was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Fresh allogeneic bone was drilled and deproteinized as DPB scaffold. Tissue engineered periosteum/DPB complex was constructed by tissue engineered periosteum and DPB. Tissue engineered periosteum was "coat-like" package the DPB, and bundled with absorbable sutures. Forty-eight New Zealand white rabbits (4-month-old) were randomly divided into 4 groups (groups A, B, C, and D, n=12). The bone defect model of 3.5 cm in length in the left radius was created. Defect was repaired with tissue engineered periosteum in group A, with DPB in group B, with tissue engineered periosteum/DPB in group C; defect was untreated in group D. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation, 4 rabbits in each group were observed by X-ray. At 8 weeks after operation, 4 rabbits of each group were randomly sacrificed for histological examination. ResultsSEM observation showed that abundant seeding cells adhered to tissue engineered periosteum. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation, X-ray films showed the newly formed bone was much more in groups A and C than groups B and D. The X-ray film score were significantly higher in groups A and C than in groups B and D, in group A than in group C, and in group B than in group D (P<0.05). Histological staining indicated that there was a lot of newly formed bone in the defect space in group A, with abundant newly formed vessels and medullary cavity. While in group B, the defect space filled with the DPB, the degradation of DPB was not obvious. In group C, there was a lot of newly formed bone in the defect space, island-like DPB and obvious DPB degradation were seen in newly formed bone. In group D, the defect space only replaced by some connective tissue. ConclusionTissue engineered periosteum constructed by SIS and BMSCs has the feasibility to repair the large diaphysis defect in rabbit. DPB isn't an ideal support scaffold of tissue engineering periosteum, the supporting scaffolds of tissue engineered periosteum need further exploration.
Objective To explore an effective method of culturing the canine bladder smooth muscle cells, observe the morphological characteristics of the bladder smooth muscle cells growing on acellular small intestinal submucosa（SIS） and offer an experimental basis for reconstruction of the bladder smooth muscle structure by the tissue engineering techniques. Methods The enzymetreatment method and the explant method were respectively used to isolate and harvest the canine bladder smooth muscle cells, and then a primary culture of these cells was performed. The canine bladder smooth musclecells were seeded on the SIS scaffold, and the composite of the bladder smooth muscle cells and the SIS scaffold were co cultured for a further observation. At 5,7 and 9 days of the co culture, the specimens were taken; the bladder smooth muscle cells growing on the SIS scaffold were observed by the hematoxylin staining, the HE staining, and the scanning electron microscopy. The composite of the bladder smooth muscle cells on the SIS scaffold was used as the experimental group, and the bladder smooth muscle cells with no SIS were used as the control group. In each group, 9 holes were chosen for the seeded bladder smooth muscle cells, and then the cells were collected at 3, 5 and 7 days for the cell counting after the enzyme treatment. Morphological characteristics of the cells were observed under the phase contrast microscope and the transmission electron microscope. Expression of the cell specific marker protein was assessed by the immunohistochemical examinaiton. The proliferation of the cells was assessed by the cell counting after the seeding on the SIS scaffold. Results The primary bladder smooth muscle cells that had been harvested by the enzyme treatment method were rapidly proliferated, and the cells had good morphological characteristics. After the primary culture in vitrofor 5 days, the bladder smooth muscle cells grew in confluence. When the bladder smooth muscle cells were seeded by the explant method, a small amount of the spindleshaped bladder smooth muscle cells emigrated from the explant at 3 days. The cells were characterized by the welldeveloped actin filaments inthe cytoplasm and the dense patches in the cell membrane under the transmissionelectron microscope. The immunohistochemical staining showed the canine bladdersmooth muscle cells with positive reacting α actin antibodies. The bladder smooth muscle cells adhered to the surface of the SIS scaffold, growing and proliferating there. After the culture in vitro for 5 days, the smooth muscle cells covered all the surface of the scaffold, showing a singlelayer cellular structure. The cell counts at 3, 5 and 7 days in the experimental group were（16.85±0.79）×105，（39.74±2.16）×105 and （37.15±2.02）×105, respectively. Thecell counts in the control group were（19.43±0.54）×105，（34.50±1.85）×105 and （33.07±1.31）×105, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups at 5 days （P＜0.05）. ConclusionWith the enzyme treatment method, the primarily cultured canine bladder smooth muscle cells can produce a great amount of good and active cells in vitro. The acellular SIS can offer an excellent bio scaffold to support the bladder smooth muscle cells to adhere and grow, which has provided the technical foundation for a further experiment on the tissue engineered bladder reconstruction.
Objective To summarize the basic research and the cl inical use of small intestinal submucosa (SIS), which is used as a degradable material for tissue repair. Methods Recent l iterature concerning SIS at home and abroad was extensively reviewed, and current developments of the basic research and the cl inical use of SIS were investigated. Results SIShad many biological advantages in tissue repair, and was used to repair various tissue defects in animal trials. It had successful outcomes in many cl inical trials to repair hernia, anal fistula and Peyronie diseases. And it also had good results at the early stage to treat dilation of the anastomosis, urethroplasty, hypospadias, and other diseases, however, the long-term follow-up was needed. Conclusion SIS is one kind of good material for tissue repair, and has promising future in the cl inical use.
Objective to determine the modulus of elasticity (E) of small intestinal submucosa (SIS), a new biological graft material. Methods The longitudinal tensile testing was performed on 21 specimens of canine jejunum with the electronic material test machine. Results Stress (σ)strain (ε) data were obtained. It was found that the stress (σ)strain (ε) data fitted the expressionσ＝Kεα very well, the mean correlation coefficients R2 was0.991 6.Then the expression of the modulus of elasticity (E) of SIS was E=K1/ασ1-1/α. The mean values of α and K were 3.966 9 and 374.55，so E=4.3992σ0.75. Conclusion The modulus of elasticity was found to increase with increasing stress. The variations law is similar to that of the vessels. Furthermore when σ is 001333 MPa(100 mmHg),E is about 0.16 MPa, which is similar to that of the vessels.
Objective To review the development of researches on the stem cells and the tissue engineering technique used in the intestines. Methods We comprehensively reviewed the literature related to the stem cells and the tissue engineering technique used in the intestines, and summarized the conclusions made by the researches concerned. Results The researches on the stem cells and the tissue engineering technique used in the intestines were attractive topics in the recent years and obtained some developments, especially in the field dealing with the characteristics, proliferation and differentiation of the intestinal stem cells as well as the tissue engineering framework of the small intestinal submucosa in vivo. However, the markers for the differentiation of the intestinal stem cells were still a critical problem, which had not been solved yet, and besides, the researches on the intestinal tissue engineering were still in the initial stage. Conclusion There is a broad prospective application of the intestinal stem cells and the tissue engineering technique to the intestinal problem solution. Substantial achievements can be obtained in the treatment of the inflammatory bowel disease, inan exploration on the oncogenesis mechanism, and in the clinical application ofthe intestinal tissue engineering.
Objective To make a comparison between the effects of the small intestinal submucosa (SIS) graft and the insideout vein graft on repairing the peripheral nerve defects. Methods SIS was harvested from the fresh jejunum of the quarantined pig by curetting the musoca, the tunica serosa, and the myometrium; then, SIS was sterilized, dried and frozen before use. Thirty-six male SD rats were divided into 3 groups randomly, with 12 rats in each group. Firstly, the 10mm defects in the right sciatic nerves were madein the rats and were respectively repaired with the SIS graft (Group A), the insideout autologous vein graft (Group B), and the autonerve graft (Group C). At 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the operations, the right sciatic nerves were taken out, and the comparative evaluation was made on the repairing effects by the histological examination, the neural electrophysiological examination, the computerized imaging analysis, and the Trueblue retrograde fluorescence trace. Results The histological examination showed that the regenerated nerve fibers were seen across the defects in the three groups at 6 weeks after the operations. The nerve fibers were denser, the formed nerve myelin was more regular, and the fibrous tissue was less in Group A than in Group B; the nerve regeneration was more similar between Group A and Group C. At 12 weeks after the operations, the neural electrophysiological examination showed that the neural conductive rate was significantly lower in Group B than in Groups A and C (Plt;0.05),but no statistically significant difference was found between Group A and GroupC (Pgt;0.05); the component potential wave amplitude was not statistically different between Group A and Group B; however, the amplitude was significantly lower in Groups A and B than in Group C (Plt;0.05). At 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the operations, the computerized imaging analyses showed that the axiscylinder quantity per area and the nerve-tissue percentage were significantly greaterin Group A than in Group B (Plt;0.05); the average diameter of the regenerated axis cylinder, the axiscylinder quantity per area, and the nerve-tissue percentage were significantly lesser in Group B than in Group C (Plt;0.05). At 12 weeks after the operations, the Trueblue retrograde fluorescence trace revealed that the positivelylabeled neurons were found in the lumbar 3-6 dorsal root ganglion sections in the three groups. Conclusion The small intestinal submucosa graft is superior to the autologous inside-out vein graft in repairing the peripheral nerve defects and it is close to the autonerve graft in bridging the peripheral nerve defects. Therefore, the small intestinal submucosa is a promising biological material used to replace the autonerve graft.
Objective To investigate the effect of machine-enzyme digestion method on the residual quantity of small intestinal submucosa (SIS) cell and the content of growth factors. Methods Fresh jejunum of pig within 4 hours after harvesting was prepared into SIS after machine digestion (removing placenta percreta, mucosa, and muscular layer), degrease,trypsinization, abstergent processing, and freeze drying. Samples were kept after every preparation step serving as groups A, B, C, D, and E, respectively (n=4 per group). And the fresh jejunum served as control group (group F, n=4). The histological alteration in each preparation process was reviewed with HE staining and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Nest-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determine the content of death associated protein 12 (DAP12), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was appl ied to detect the content of vascular endothel ial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Results HE staining and SEM observation showed that there were residual cells in groups A and B, and there were no residual cells in groups C, D, and E. Nest-PCR test revealed the occurrence of DAP12 in each group. The contents of DAP12 in groups A, B, C, D, E, and F were (18.01 ± 9.53), (11.87 ± 2.35), (0.59 ± 0.27), (0.29 ± 0.05), (0.19 ± 0.04), and (183.50 ± 120.13) copy × 106/cm2. The content of DAP12 in group F was significant higher than that of other groups (P lt; 0.05), groups A and B was higher than groups C, D, and E (P lt; 0.05), there were significantdifferences among groups C, D, and E (P lt; 0.05), and there was no significant difference between groups A and B (P gt; 0.05). The ELISA test showed the content of VEGF, bFGF, TGF-β, and TNF-α in group A was significantly higher than that of groups B, C, D, and E (P lt; 0.05), and there was no significant difference among groups B, C, D, and E (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion SIS prepared by simple mechanical method has more residual cells, while the machine-enzyme digestion method can effectively remove the cells and significantly reduce the DAP12 content. This approach can not obviously reduce the growth factor content in SIS.
Objective To investigate the feasibility of using the porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) as a kind of the new tissue engineered materials to repair the rat full skin defect. Methods Twenty-eight 6-week-old SD rats weighing 300-350 g were selected in this experimental study. Two 2-cm-diameter round full skin defects were made on the rat back. The upper round defect was used as the blank group, which had no coverings, and the lower round defect was used as the SIS group. SIS that had been produced earlier was transplanted in the defected area. At 3 days, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after the transplantation, the observation was made on the repaired skin conditions, the HE stain, and the repaired skin proportion. Results There was no infection in the two groups. The repairing speed in the SIS group was faster than that in the blank group at 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks after the transplantation. The skin repaired by SIS was soft and elastic in texture, which had the same high level as the normal skin. The scar tissues in the SIS group were thinner than those in the blank group. The repaired skin proportions at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after the transplantation were 15.72%±3.64%, 43.81%±4.87%, 65.35%±5.63%, 87.95%±4.78%，96.90%±6.89% and 100%, respectively in the SIS group, and 13.42%±5.63%，58.74%±4.48%，76.50%±5.23%，92.30%±5.75% and 100%, respectively in the blank group. Therewas a statistically significant difference between the two groups at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after the transplantation(P＜0.05). Under the microscope, the SIS-repaired skin was observed to have more keratinocytes and collagen tissues, whichwas familiar to the normal skin.Conclusion Porcine SIS can be used as a new kind of the tissue engineered materials to repair the full skin defect.
Objective To compare the effect of small intestinal submucosa(SIS)and polypropylene mesh(PPM) on repairing abdominal wall defects in rats, and toprobe into the feasibility of using SIS to repair the abdominal wall defects. Methods 100 SD rats(50 males and 50 females)were randomly divided into 2 groups(n=50). Their weight ranged from 200 to 250 g.Full thickness abdominal wall defects (2 cm×2 cm) were created by surgery and were repaired with SIS and PPM respectively. At different postoperative time (1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th and 12th week), animals were sacrificed to make histological observation. The tensile strengthand the development of adhesions were measured and observed. Results 95 animals survived and were healthy after surgery. No inflammatory response and obvious immunoreaction were observed in both groups. One week after operation, the tensile strengthof abdominal wall in SIS group (204.30±5.13 mmHg) was lower than that in PPMgroup(240.0±10.0 mmHg) at 1st week(P＜0.05),and there were no difference at 4th, 8th, 12th week. Adhesions were more marked in PPM group thanthat in SIS group(P＜0.05). Conclusion Both SIS and PPM are histologically compatible when used in rats and can maintain sufficient tensile strength. SIS is superior to PPM in regards to tissue compatibility and adhesion formation.
Objective To review the recent progress of the small intestinal submucosa (SIS) in application research of tissue repair and reconstruction. Methods The domestic and international articles on the SIS were reviewed and summarized. Results As a natural extracellular matrix, SIS has outstanding biological advantages, such as good mechanical property, tissue compatibility, and lower immunogenicity. SIS has been used to repair and reconstruct various types of tissue defects in animal models and clinical application, especially in the treatment of hernia, urinary system disease, and refractory skin trauma. The development of the tissue engineering technology expands the field of SIS repair and reconstruction and promotes the intensive study of SIS. However, the long-term effect of SIS in tissue repair and reconstruction still remains to be further observation, while the cell/SIS material construction by tissue engineering technology also needs more studies. Conclusion SIS has a widely promising application future in the tissue repair and reconstruction.