Chapter 56 Human amnion membrane as a substratum for axonal elongation in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

Human amnion membrane (HAM) has recently been found to promote axonal growth in vitro and in vivo , and fetal tissue grafts have been the most successful as bridges for regenerating CNS neurons. This chapter describes the role of human amnion membrane as a substratum for axonal elongation in vitro and in vivo . The basement membrane surface of HAM acts as a substratum for growing neurites of cultured chick ciliary ganglion motor neurons and of axotomized cholinergic medial septa1 neurons. The advantages of HAM include: (1) its availability in large quantities, (2) its easy manipulation prior to implantation, and (3) unlike fetal grafts, and the absence of ethical problems. Regardless of the exact mechanism underlying the growth observed, all animals with HAM implants show growth onto the HAM and into the previously denervated hippocampus. However, further studies are required to investigate the behavioral and electrophysiological recovery of function, and retrograde tracer studies to confirm the origin of the hippocampal fibers.