Enzymatic treatment of ileal segments used for urinary tract reconstruction

Urinary tract reconstruction by using various gastrointestinal segments is not devoid of complications which may hamper to a great extent the beneficial effects of the procedure. Intestinal mucosa is the primary site responsible for these complications and any procedure aiming at the prevention of untoward effects of intestinal interposition should abolish the absorptive and secretory functions of the mucosa. Augmentation cystoplasties by ileal segments were performed on 24 male albino Wistar rats. In 12 animals de-epithelialization of the mucosa with an enzymatic cock-tail, consisting of type I and type V collagenases and trypsin, preceded the cystoplasty. The functional capacity of the epithelium was determined by a simplified glucose absorption test in the third postoperative week. Morphological examination before the absorption test did not reveal any fibrosis or shrinkage of the ileal segments. Complete elimination of the absorptive capability in enzyme treated mucosa was found during the glucose absorption test, while a rapid and highly effective absorption was observed in the control group (p < 0.05). As a result, it seems possible to obtain intestinal segments covered with a mucosa which acquired similar characteristics to uro-epithelium, therefore closely resembling the original urinary tissues.