Xiaoliang Hua1, Yujie Xu1, Gang Liu2, Lin Sun1, Hao Zhang1, Qiufeng Pan1, Di Liu1, Bing Li3. 1. Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China. 2. Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China. 3. Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China. Electronic address: bingli@hust.edu.cn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To develop an experimental model of anterior urethral stricture in rabbits using a bleomycin (BLM) injection technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty adult male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups. In group 1 (BLM group), BLM was injected into the urethral submucosal tissue every other day through a catheter for 6 weeks at the 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-o'clock positions of the urethra in 12 rabbits. In group 2 (phosphate-buffered saline [PBS] group), PBS was injected instead of BLM in 6 rabbits. In group 3 (stricture control group), an 8 × 20 mm urethral defect was created in 6 rabbits. In group 4 (normal group), 6 normal rabbits were included. All rabbits in the PBS group and stricture control group, as well as 6 rabbits in the BLM group, were sacrificed at 6 weeks. The remaining 6 rabbits in the BLM group were sacrificed at 10 weeks. Urethrography was performed in all rabbits before sacrifice, and the urethra was harvested for histologic analysis. RESULTS: All rabbits in the BLM group showed mild urethral stricture at 4 weeks and significant urethral stricture at 6 weeks, without spontaneous resolution of the stricture at 10 weeks. No urethral stricture was observed in the PBS group at 4 and 6 weeks. Histologic examination confirmed the presence of fibrosis in the BLM group without spontaneous improvement. CONCLUSION: BLM injection can induce an experimental model of anterior urethral stricture in rabbits. This simple, highly efficient, reproducible method can be carried out in any laboratory.
OBJECTIVE: To develop an experimental model of anterior urethral stricture in rabbits using a bleomycin (BLM) injection technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty adult male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups. In group 1 (BLM group), BLM was injected into the urethral submucosal tissue every other day through a catheter for 6 weeks at the 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-o'clock positions of the urethra in 12 rabbits. In group 2 (phosphate-buffered saline [PBS] group), PBS was injected instead of BLM in 6 rabbits. In group 3 (stricture control group), an 8 × 20 mm urethral defect was created in 6 rabbits. In group 4 (normal group), 6 normal rabbits were included. All rabbits in the PBS group and stricture control group, as well as 6 rabbits in the BLM group, were sacrificed at 6 weeks. The remaining 6 rabbits in the BLM group were sacrificed at 10 weeks. Urethrography was performed in all rabbits before sacrifice, and the urethra was harvested for histologic analysis. RESULTS: All rabbits in the BLM group showed mild urethral stricture at 4 weeks and significant urethral stricture at 6 weeks, without spontaneous resolution of the stricture at 10 weeks. No urethral stricture was observed in the PBS group at 4 and 6 weeks. Histologic examination confirmed the presence of fibrosis in the BLM group without spontaneous improvement. CONCLUSION: BLM injection can induce an experimental model of anterior urethral stricture in rabbits. This simple, highly efficient, reproducible method can be carried out in any laboratory.