Comparison between Vaginal Epithelial Cells Seeded and Unseeded Porcine Acellular Dermal Matrix for Vagina Reconstruction in Mice

Objective:To compare the effect of vagina reconstruction between with vaginal epithelial cells seeded and with unseeded porcine acellular dermal matrix(PADM) in an animal model.Methods:Epithelial cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion after vagina excision in Kunming mice.Vagina reconstruction with vaginal epithelial cells unseeded and seeded PADM were performed in group A(12 mice) and group B(12 mice),correspondingly.At week 2,4,8 and 12 after implantation,the animals were sacrificed and the neovaginas were prepared for hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining,Van Gieson(VG) staining and epithelial broad spectrum of monoclonal antibodies of AE1 /AE3 immunohistochemical staining to evaluate the status of various layer growth of vagina.The ultrastructure of neovagina was observed by transmission electron microscope at week 12 after implantation.Results:①In group A,only 2 ～ 3 layers of epitheliums were observed under the light microscopy at week 2 after implantation.At week 4,epithelization in mucosa of neovaginal canal was intensified to 4 ～ 5 layers,but the epithelial cells were disarranged.After 8 ～ 12 weeks,the differences between the neovagina and the native vagina were harldy noted.In group B,the neovagina had the same structure as the native vagina after 2 weeks.Within 4 ～ 12 weeks the similar results could be observed,except that the cell shape became more mature and polarized.At week 12,degradation of PADM could be observed in group A,while the structure of PADM still remained complete.②Immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratins A1 /A3 confirmed that vaginal epithelial cells was successful reconstructed.③In group B,desmosomes,hemi desmosomes,fibroblasts,nerve fibre and capillary could be observed under transmission electron microscope.Conclusions:Vagina reconstruction with vaginal epithelial cells seeded and unseeded PADM are both feasible.With mature technology,vagina reconstruction with vaginal epithelial cells seeded is better than unseeded PADM.