A standardized protocol for anal fistula induction in a rat model

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate an experimental model of anal fistulas in rats, analyze the primary challenges associated with this model, and identify its key advantages. Methods: Twenty-six male Wistar rats underwent surgical induction of two anal fistulas each, using a metal seton. The setons rem...

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Main Authors: Paulo Cesar de Castro Junior, Jenif Braga de Souza, Ruy Garcia Marques
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira para o Desenvolvimento da Pesquisa em Cirurgia 2025-08-01
Series:Acta Cirúrgica Brasileira
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-86502025000100238&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Paulo Cesar de Castro Junior
Jenif Braga de Souza
Ruy Garcia Marques
author_facet Paulo Cesar de Castro Junior
Jenif Braga de Souza
Ruy Garcia Marques
author_sort Paulo Cesar de Castro Junior
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate an experimental model of anal fistulas in rats, analyze the primary challenges associated with this model, and identify its key advantages. Methods: Twenty-six male Wistar rats underwent surgical induction of two anal fistulas each, using a metal seton. The setons remained in place for 30 days, after which they were removed. Animals were divided in two groups (n = 13 per group). Group 1 was euthanized two weeks post-seton removal, and Group 2 in four weeks post-seton removal. Two fistula tissue samples were collected from each animal for histopathological analysis. Results: All 26 animals tolerated the procedure well, with an average weight gain of 64.3 grams in 30 days. There was no animal loss during the experiment, but eight setons were lost due to poor fixation. One animal lost both setons and had to be excluded from the experiment, resulting in a 96% success rate. All 44 remaining fistulas could be identified by observing the scar on the external orifice, two and four weeks after the removal of the metal wire. Conclusion: The two groups showed no differences. The experimental model in this work proved to be quite effective, economically viable and easy to reproduce.
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spelling doaj-art-ea76d79a45c24f6f8154ed06c400b32f2025-08-20T04:03:26ZengSociedade Brasileira para o Desenvolvimento da Pesquisa em CirurgiaActa Cirúrgica Brasileira1678-26742025-08-014010.1590/acb406125A standardized protocol for anal fistula induction in a rat modelPaulo Cesar de Castro Juniorhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5985-3564Jenif Braga de Souzahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0174-6042Ruy Garcia Marqueshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9826-1334ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate an experimental model of anal fistulas in rats, analyze the primary challenges associated with this model, and identify its key advantages. Methods: Twenty-six male Wistar rats underwent surgical induction of two anal fistulas each, using a metal seton. The setons remained in place for 30 days, after which they were removed. Animals were divided in two groups (n = 13 per group). Group 1 was euthanized two weeks post-seton removal, and Group 2 in four weeks post-seton removal. Two fistula tissue samples were collected from each animal for histopathological analysis. Results: All 26 animals tolerated the procedure well, with an average weight gain of 64.3 grams in 30 days. There was no animal loss during the experiment, but eight setons were lost due to poor fixation. One animal lost both setons and had to be excluded from the experiment, resulting in a 96% success rate. All 44 remaining fistulas could be identified by observing the scar on the external orifice, two and four weeks after the removal of the metal wire. Conclusion: The two groups showed no differences. The experimental model in this work proved to be quite effective, economically viable and easy to reproduce.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-86502025000100238&lng=en&tlng=enRats, WistarRectal FistulaModels, Animal
spellingShingle Paulo Cesar de Castro Junior
Jenif Braga de Souza
Ruy Garcia Marques
A standardized protocol for anal fistula induction in a rat model
Acta Cirúrgica Brasileira
Rats, Wistar
Rectal Fistula
Models, Animal
title A standardized protocol for anal fistula induction in a rat model
title_full A standardized protocol for anal fistula induction in a rat model
title_fullStr A standardized protocol for anal fistula induction in a rat model
title_full_unstemmed A standardized protocol for anal fistula induction in a rat model
title_short A standardized protocol for anal fistula induction in a rat model
title_sort standardized protocol for anal fistula induction in a rat model
topic Rats, Wistar
Rectal Fistula
Models, Animal
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-86502025000100238&lng=en&tlng=en
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