Establishment and evaluation of a stable and reliable rat model of peritoneal adhesions

Background: In this study, we aimed to establish a stable and standardized animal model of peritoneal adhesions. Methods: Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided (n = 12 each) into blank control, classic cecum sidewall, ischemic button, and cecum-sidewall suture groups. The modified American Fertility Society adhesion score was used on postoperative day 7 to evaluate adhesions. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to dynamically observe the adhesion characteristics of cecum-sidewall ischemic injury suture model at different time points (n = 60, randomly divided into groups a-e with 12 rats each). The modified American Fertility Society and Z & uuml;hlke histologic scoring systems, hematoxylineosin staining, Masson staining, and computed tomography of the abdomen were used to evaluate adhesions on postoperative days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14. Results: No peritoneal adhesions were observed in the blank control group on postoperative day 7. In the classic cecum sidewall group, 8 rats had inconsistent adhesions, which had a modified American Fertility Society adhesion score of 2.25 +/- 1.96. All rats in the ischemic button and cecum-sidewall suture groups developed significant adhesions with modified American Fertility Society scores of 3.08 +/- 1.31 and 4.67 +/- 0.78, respectively. When the modified American Fertility Society score was used, statistically significant differences were observed between the classic cecum sidewall groups and cecum-sidewall suture groups and between the ischemic button groups and cecum-sidewall suture groups. All animals in groups a-e developed adhesions; adhesion scores increased gradually with time. Conclusions: The cecum-sidewall ischemic injury suture model is a stable and standardized animal model of peritoneal adhesions.<br /> (c) 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.