Rats were randomly assigned into three groups of ten animals (Fig. 1). A median laparotomy and the repair of a repaired abdominal wall defect were performed with a 4x3 cm mesh implanted intraperitoneally according to the selected group. Group 1: polypropylene mesh - OPTILENE® Mesh (B.Braun Surgical SA, Barcelona, Spain); group 2: polypropylene mesh with polyglecaprone - PHYSIOMESH® Flexible Composite Mesh (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ, USA); and group 3: a polyester mesh with collagen previously hydrated with 0.9% saline for one minute - SYMBOTEX® Composite Mesh (Covidien, Trévoux, France).