The use of the mouse peritoneal cavity for screening for biocompatibility of polymers

The mouse peritoneal cavity was evaluated as a possible model for the preliminary screening of polymeric implant materials. The phagocytic cells of the cavity were stimulated prior to implant insertion by intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate, glycogen, or sodium caseinate. Small, cylindrical polymeric implants of polyethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, silicone, nylon-12, ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer, and polyethylene-silicone blend, were inserted and then retrieved at 1, 2, and 3 week intervals. The implants with attached cells were subsequently stained and evaluated as to the amount and type of cellular adherence. Results indicate that cell adherence varies according to the type of material used and therefore the mouse peritoneal cavity is a rapid and inexpensive method to evaluate cellular response to polymeric implant materials.