[Value of collagen type IV in tympanoplasties. Animal experimentation in rats]

The authors recall the importance of collagen in the ultrastructure of the lamina propria and the properties of the type IV collagen concerning epidermic healing. Tympanomeatic graft composed of reticulated type IV collagen was used as a graft in rats. This experimental study demonstrated a good stability of the graft 40 days after operating. A new non toxic cross linking technique has been developed to stabilise of the biomaterial. The type IV collagen film shows good properties for the growth and the differentiation of epithelial cell like keratinocytes.