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Comparative Study
. 2018 Apr 5;13(1):72.
doi: 10.1186/s13018-018-0781-6.

Mechanical barriers and transforming growth factor beta inhibitor on epidural fibrosis in a rabbit laminectomy model

Juan N Albiñana-Cunningham  1   2 , Purificación Ripalda-Cemboráin  1 , Tania Labiano  3 , José I Echeveste  4 , Froilán Granero-Moltó  5   6 , Matías Alfonso-Olmos  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Mechanical barriers and transforming growth factor beta inhibitor on epidural fibrosis in a rabbit laminectomy model

Juan N Albiñana-Cunningham et al. J Orthop Surg Res. .

Abstract

Background: TGF-β has been described as a mediator of fibrosis and scarring. Several studies achieved reduction in experimental scarring through the inhibition of TGF-β. Fibroblasts have been defined as the cell population originating fibrosis, blocking fibroblast invasion may impair epidural fibrosis appearance. For this purpose, biocompatible materials used as mechanical barriers and a TGF-β inhibitor peptide were evaluated in the reduction of epidural fibrosis.

Methods: A L6 laminectomy was performed in 40 New Zealand white rabbits. Divided into four groups, each rabbit was assigned to receive either collagen sponge scaffold (CS group), gelatin-based gel (GCP group), P144® (iTGFβ group), or left untreated (control group). Four weeks after surgery, cell density, collagen content, and new bone formation of the scar area were determined by histomorphometry. Two experienced pathologists scored dura mater adhesion, scar density, and inflammatory infiltrate in a blinded manner.

Results: In all groups, laminectomy site was filled with fibrous tissue and the dura mater presented adhesions. Only GCP group presented a significant reduction in collagen content and scar density.

Conclusion: GCP treatment reduces epidural fibrosis although did not prevent dura mater adhesion completely.

Keywords: Biomaterials; Epidural fibrosis; Laminectomy; TGF-β.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the University of Navarra and approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of the University of Navarra (CEEA 131/10).

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a Laminectomy of L6. b Vertebra harvesting. Left panel, ventral view; right panel, dorsal view. c Top panel, intact vertebrae. Middle panels, histological view of the fibrotic tissue covering the laminectomy area. Lower panel, magnification of the dural adhesion. Open box, region of the dural adhesion analyzed
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Masson’s Trichrome staining evaluating scar density. Kruskal-Wallis test p = 0.0031; **p < 0.01. b Masson’s Trichrome staining evaluating dura mater adhesion. Kruskal-Wallis test p = 0.0586. c H&E staining evaluating inflammatory infiltrate. Kurskal-Wallis test p = 0.0068; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Sirius Red staining was used for histomorphometric quantification of collagen content
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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