Comparative Early Local and Systemic Biochemical Host Response to Bovine Peritoneum-Derived Extracellular Matrix and Permacol in a Rat Abdominal Wall Repair Model

Biological matrices are used in abdominal wall reconstruction, but their performance depends on the host response after implantation. We compared the early local and systemic biochemical responses to a newly developed bovine peritoneum-derived extracellular matrix (BPEM) and Permacol in a rat abdominal wall repair model. Sixty-four adult white outbred rats of both sexes were studied in a balanced 2 × 4 factorial design with independent terminal groups at postoperative days 5, 7, 14, and 21 (n = 8/material/time point). Peri-implant tissue and plasma from the same animal were analyzed for ASF, RNA, DNA, xanthine, H1, H2A-H3-H4, and H2B. Robust factorial models were used to assess the effects of material, time, and their interaction; exact Mann–Whitney tests with Holm correction identified time-specific between-material differences. Tissue showed significant time effects for all seven indicators and five material × time interactions, with the most pronounced between-material differences observed on day 5. Plasma showed several overall material effects but fewer time-specific differences. Significant post hoc differences were bidirectional rather than consistently higher with BPEM. These findings characterize the early local and systemic biochemical responses to BPEM and Permacol and extend the preclinical evaluation of the newly developed BPEM.