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.

urethral plate, hypospadias, histologic study, immunohistochemical study