[Histological changes after the recontruction of tongue defect with rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal flap].

Objective: To observe the cellular morphological and histological changes of the reconstructed tongue defect by rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal flap of dogs with or without nerve.

Methods: 12 Beagle dogs were randomly divided into two groups. Group A made rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal flap with the intercostal nerve while group B without the intercostal nerve. Nerve anastomosis was performed in Group A while not in Group B in the repairment. 12 weeks later, the length, width, surface area and cellular morphology and histological changes of the two transfer flaps were observed.

Results: The length, width, surface area of transplanted rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal flaps in group A were greater than those in Group B, and the differences were statistically significant at 12th week (P < 0.01). The microscope study found that the transplanted rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal flaps of group A had part of muscle fiber atrophy with some connective and adipose tissue, loose muscle fiber arrangement, while the transplanted rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal flaps of Group B had muscle cells atrophy with some adipocyte. The structure of muscle cells in Group A was basically normal, but it was disorder in Group B. The type II muscle fibers of Group B was atrophy and substituted by a lot of connective tissue.

Conclusion: After tongue defect reconstructed by rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal flap with nerve, the changes of muscle fibers could be similar to tongue muscles, providing a basis for the dynamic recovery of the tongue.