Rabbit as an animal model for the study of biological grafts in pelvic floor dysfunctions

The aims of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of the New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit for studying implanted biomaterials in pelvic reconstructive surgery; and to compare the occurrence of graft-related complications of a commercial polypropylene (PP) mesh and new developed human dermal matrix implanted at vaginal and abdominal level. 20 white female NZW rabbits were randomized into two groups, experimental group (human acellular dermal matrices-hADM-graft) and control group (commercial PP graft). In each animal, grafts were surgically implanted subcutaneously in the abdominal wall and in the vaginal submucosa layer for 180 days. The graft segments were then removed and the surgical and clinical results were analyzed. The main surgical challenges during graft implantation were: (a) an adequate vaginal exposure while maintaining the integrity of the vaginal mucosa layer; (b) to keep aseptic conditions; (c) to locate and dissect the breast vein abdominal surgery; and (d) to withdraw blood samples from the ear artery. The most abnormal findings during the explant surgery were found in the PP group (33% of vaginal mesh extrusion) in comparison with the hADM group (0% of vaginal graft extrusion), p = 0.015. Interestingly, macroscopic observation showed that the integration of the vaginal grafts was more common in the hADM group (40%) than in the PP group, in which the vaginal mesh was identified in 100% of the animals (p = 0.014). The NZW rabbit is a good model for assessing materials to be used as grafts for pelvic reconstructive surgery and vaginal surgery. Animals are easily managed during the procedures, including surgical intervention and vaginal mucosa approach. Additionally, hADM is associated with fewer clinical complications, as well as better macroscopic tissue integration, compared to PP mesh.