The purpose of this study is to report the use of guinea pigs as experimental model to study the resitance of the tissue expander capsule. Two groups were studied. In both groups a round 20 cc tissue expander, attached to a multiperforated catheter was inserted. The pocket housing was standardized. The skin over the expanded area was tattooed demarcating the area and arc, which were measured before and after each expansion. Every 4 days, a volume corresponding to 10% of the expander's total capacity was injected. Animals of the control group received 3 cc of saline through the catheter at the same time of expansion. Animals of the experimental group received 3 cc of the HBGF-1 diluted with saline. The intraluminal pressure of the expander was measured before and after the injection. After its total filling, the animals were sacrificed and 5 cc more were injected into each expander. The pressure was measured after each 1 cc injected. The capsule was examined histologically by immunofluorescence, trichrome and hematoxylin-eosin stains with the purpose of quantifying collagen and fibroblasts. The experimental model to study the resistance of the tissue expander's capsule showed to be feasible in guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs; Capsular contracture; Tissue expander; HBGF-1
