[Tissue equivalent for the closure of extended urethral defects].

The aim of the present work was to develop a method for culturing epidermal keratinocytes to be used in a tissue equivalent for the closure of extended urethral defects. The experiment was carried out using 15 rabbits. Skin biopsies were obtained from the inner surface of the ear. The tissue equivalent consisted of collagen gel with embedded fibroblasts and epidermal keratinocytes grown on its surface; lavsan-mesh endoprosthesis served as the framework. Prefabrication of the neourethral plate was performed on the superficial fascia of m. rectus abdominis. The neourethral tube was formed after engraftment which was complete in all 15 animals. A histological study revealed morphological similarity of the neourethral tube thus engineered and the normal urethra.