Mechanisms of polyglycolic acid sheet-induced abdominal wall adhesions in hamsters

Purpose: A hamster adhesion model was used to investigate the mechanism by which polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheets reinforce the surgical site through the acceleration of postoperative adhesion formation.

Methods: After receiving electrocautery burns on the inside of the abdominal wall, the hamsters were divided into the PGA group (a PGA sheet was placed on the burned area) and a non-treated group (a PGA sheet was not placed). The degree of adhesion was evaluated at 3, 14, 28, and 56 days after burn injury, and the mRNA levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 at the surgical sites were measured.

Results: Adhesion formation was observed 3 days after the burn injury in the non-treated group, but it decreased at 14, 28, and 56 days. On the other hand, a significant increase in adhesion formation was observed at 3 days in the PGA group relative to the non-treated group, with the increase continuing at 14 and 28 days. Significant increases in MPO, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 mRNA levels at the adhesion site were observed 3 days after the burn injury in both groups, with the increase continuing in the PGA group, but not in the non-treated group, at 14 and 28 days.

Conclusions: Acceleration of adhesion formation by PGA may be associated with upregulated MPO, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 mRNA levels.