Zhi-Dan Zhang1, Zhi-Qi Hu, Bing Yi. 1. Department of Plastic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. cendyrose@sina.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To observe the histocompatibility of a polypropylene matrix implanted subcutaneously for potential hair follicle transplantation in rabbits. METHODS: The polypropylene matrix for harboring the hair follicles was prepared and implanted subcutaneously at the neck of 5 New Zealand white rabbits by means of hair follicle unit transplantation. At 1 week after the transplantation and then on a monthly basis in the following 6 months, full-thickness skin tissues were sampled at the site of grafting to evaluate the histocompatibility of the matrix material using HE staining and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: At 1 week after implantation of the matrix material, a small number of inflammatory cells and lymphocytic infiltration were observed around the graft, with mild hyperemia in the proliferative capillaries and mild inflammatory responses. In the following 6 months, the inflammatory cells and lymphocytes around the graft decreased obviously or even disappeared, and such graft rejection responses as tissue lysis and necrosis were not observed. A large quantity of collagen fibers were found to encapsulate the polypropylene material. CONCLUSION: Polypropylene matrix graft has good histocompatibility with the rabbit subcutaneous tissue without producing obvious graft rejection responses, suggesting its feasibility for further experiments of hair follicle transplantation.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the histocompatibility of a polypropylene matrix implanted subcutaneously for potential hair follicle transplantation in rabbits. METHODS: The polypropylene matrix for harboring the hair follicles was prepared and implanted subcutaneously at the neck of 5 New Zealand white rabbits by means of hair follicle unit transplantation. At 1 week after the transplantation and then on a monthly basis in the following 6 months, full-thickness skin tissues were sampled at the site of grafting to evaluate the histocompatibility of the matrix material using HE staining and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: At 1 week after implantation of the matrix material, a small number of inflammatory cells and lymphocytic infiltration were observed around the graft, with mild hyperemia in the proliferative capillaries and mild inflammatory responses. In the following 6 months, the inflammatory cells and lymphocytes around the graft decreased obviously or even disappeared, and such graft rejection responses as tissue lysis and necrosis were not observed. A large quantity of collagen fibers were found to encapsulate the polypropylene material. CONCLUSION:Polypropylene matrix graft has good histocompatibility with the rabbit subcutaneous tissue without producing obvious graft rejection responses, suggesting its feasibility for further experiments of hair follicle transplantation.