Abstract
Purpose:
Tissue engineering has shown promise in various fields including cardiology and urology. We wish to adapt these methods to create a model utilizing the omentum as a vascular supply with growth factors in order to produce an in vivo patch of levator palpebrae superioris muscle (LPS) with contractile properties for the treatment of congenital blepharoptosis as well as ptosis due to various myogenic causes.
Methods:
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for this study. The LPS was harvested from one eyelid of the rat and transplanted to the greater omentum of the same animal under anesthesia. The transplanted LPS was tagged with a 6-0 prolene suture. One month later the animals were euthanized, and the LPS tissue was harvested from the omentum for examination. Control samples of LPS tissue were taken as well. The tissues were fixed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for evaluation by an ophthalmic pathologist.
Results:
Nine male Sprague-Dawley rats were included in the study. Three of the rats underwent surgery to harvest control samples of LPS tissue. Six of the rats underwent surgery for LPS transplantation, one of which died while under anesthesia. Upon harvesting the transplanted LPS tissue one month later from the remaining five rats, it was noted to be grossly encased in the omental tissue and was identifiable only due to the 6-0 prolene marking suture. Histopathologic evaluation revealed atrophy and disorganization of the transplanted LPS when compared to the control samples.
Conclusions:
While previous studies have demonstrated successful tissue engineering ultilizing the omentum, this pilot study to create a model for engineering in vivo LPS in the omentum was unsuccessful. Further study modifications are necessary and may yield a functional LPS patch graft which could be used in the treatment of congenital blepharoptosis as well as ptosis due to various myogenic causes.
Keywords: 526 eyelid •
721 stem cells •
741 transplantation