Purpose: To assess the collagen content and types in the rectus abdominis muscle of cadavers of different ages.
Methods: Forty fresh adult male cadavers, at room temperature, were obtained from the Institute of Legal Medicine of Franca and dissected within 24 hours of death. The cadavers were divided into two groups: Group A (n=20), 18 to 30 years of age, and Group B (n=20), 31 to 60 years of age. Bilateral incisions were made in the middle portion of anterior rectus sheath 3 cm superiorly and 2 cm inferiorly to the umbilicus and four fragments of the rectus abdominis muscle were dissected. The samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalin and sent for immunohistochemical analysis to determine collagen content and types.
Results: Immunohistochemical results revealed higher amounts of type I and type III collagen in Group A. However, no difference in the amount of type IV collagen was found between the groups.
Conclusion: The amount of type I and type III collagen was higher in group A.