[Histological study of urethral plate: a search of the best material for surgical treatment of hypospadias in children].

Aim: to study the microstructure of the urethral plate in patients with a proximal form of hypospadias to justify the use of tissues from the ventral penile surface when creating an artificial urethra.

Materials And Methods: A histological study of surgical specimens from 10 patients with proximal hypospadias was carried out. The urethral plate, a strip of tissue from the ectopic external urethral orifice located in the penoscrotal angle, to the coronary sulcus, was completely excised and processed by various techniques. A staining with hematoxylin and eosin, picrofuchsin according to Van Gieson, as well as immunohistochemical typing of CD 34, collagen (type I, III, and IV), fibronectin, and smooth myocytes using alpha-smooth muscle actin was performed.

Results: All elements which are present in a healthy urethra, such as epithelial cells, blood vessels, normal collagen fibers, smooth muscle cells and complexes of glands, were found in the microstructure of the urethral plate.

Conclusion: The cytoarchitectonic features of the ventral penile tissues are similar to the microstructure of the healthy urethra, which provides a rationale to consider the urethral plate as a material with optimal bioresistant properties for urethroplasty.