A rat model to study the structural properties of the vagina and its supportive tissues
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the rat as a model for evaluating
the structural properties of the vagina and its supportive tissues. STUDY DESIGN: The in situ
relationships between the vagina and its supportive tissues were studied grossly (n= 10),
and in serial cross sections (n= 4). For biomechanical testing (n= 10), the lumbar spine was
fixed to a testing machine while the distal vagina was gripped with a soft-tissue clamp
mounted to a load-cell on the crosshead of the machine. The vagina was systematically …
the structural properties of the vagina and its supportive tissues. STUDY DESIGN: The in situ
relationships between the vagina and its supportive tissues were studied grossly (n= 10),
and in serial cross sections (n= 4). For biomechanical testing (n= 10), the lumbar spine was
fixed to a testing machine while the distal vagina was gripped with a soft-tissue clamp
mounted to a load-cell on the crosshead of the machine. The vagina was systematically …