Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Müller, RT.
Effects of alkali exposure on esophagus with regards to epithelial cell cultures for tissue engineering
[ Diplomarbeit ] Medical University of Graz; 2013. pp. 65
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- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Advisor:
- Saxena Amulya Kumar
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- Abstract:
- Objective: This pilot study focuses on tissue engineering (TE) of the esophagus as a new therapeutic approach for esophageal burns caused by alkaline ingestion. The aim is to investigate whether critical numbers of viable esophageal epithelial cells (EEC) can be isolated for TE purposes, from an esophagus that has been exposed to varying concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The suitability of the isolated EECs for TE applications was rated by morphology, cell count and viability after cell isolation and during an in-vitro culture. Methods: Ovine esophageal tissue explants were exposed to 5%NaOH, 7.5%NaOH, 10%NaOH and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as control group. Subsequently, EECs were isolated and cultivated for 20 days. To evaluate the effect of the varying concentrations of NaOH on the EECs, cell morphology was assessed at day-1, at day-8 and at the end of the experiment at day-20. Total cell count, viable cell count and viability were recorded at day-1 and at day-20. Results: Progressively declining numbers of intact cells were found with increasing concentrations of NaOH, after isolation and during in-vitro culture as histological evaluation and cell count demonstrated. However, a substantially greater number of intact and proliferative cells was found in the ovine esophageal epithelial cell (OEEC) groups treated with 5%NaOH and 7.5%NaOH after isolation and in culture, compared to the OEEC group exposed to 10%NaOH which showed rarely intact cells, poor variation of cell types and predominance of cell debris. Cell count reached high numbers of viable cells in esophagi exposed to 5%NaOH and 7.5%NaOH at day-1 as well as at day-20, whereas OEECs sourced from a 10%NaOH-treated esophagus yielded poor numbers of viable cells in culture. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that sufficient numbers of viable and proliferative epithelial cells suitable for TE applications can be isolated from esophagi exposed to 5%NaOH and 7.5%NaOH. Whereas esophagi exposed to 10%NaOH did not present an essential number of suitable autologous EECs for regenerative approaches so that other cell sources such as stem cells seem to be necessary to regenerate the epithelium.