[Intra-uterine model of cleft lip and scarless wound healing of fetal rats].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To properly evaluate the benefits of in utero repair of cleft lip, an animal model of cleft lip was developed and the fetal scarless wound healing was observed in SD rat fetus. METHODS: Through a maternal celiotomy and hysterotomy, twenty excisional cleft was created in the upper lip of rat fetus. Another group of 20 rat fetus were given full-thickness incisional wounds in the upper lips. The fetus with cleft lip were returned into utero for further development till birth.Wound specimens from the incisional wounds in the other group were removed successively 12, 24, 48, 72h postwounding for histological examination. RESULTS: The fetus with excisional wound demonstrated a complete cleft lip after birth. In contrast, the wound in the fetus with incisional wounds regenerated with normal architecture histologically, indistinguishable from the surrounding normal skin. CONCLUSION: The results of this preliminary study indicates that the fetal rat cleft lip is technically feasible with an excellent survival rate. Healing occurs without scar formation. This model will be used to document facial growth following in utero repair of a cleft lip.