Creation of an Ideal Microenvironment by Reverse Endto-side Coaptation for the Evaluation of Tissue Neurotropism: An Experimental Model

Abstract

Most studies agree on the demonstration of the existence of nerve tissue specificity and that if a non-nervous target (e.g. a tendon) were sutured to one of the distal limbs of a Y-shaped nerve guide, independent of the type of guide, all nerve fibers would regenerate toward the nerve tissue. Recent studies suggest that optimum nerve regeneration may arise from the tissue environment in general. We developed an experimental model in order to eliminate all the microenvironment problems that we experienced in previous studies, and to be able to evaluate the neurotropic affinity of various tissues. Group 1 (n:8): The control group. The sciatic nerve was only explored, but certainly not touched. Group 2 (n:8): Both lower ends of the peroneal nerve graft, prepared by reverse end-to-side coaptation in the shape of a horseshoe, were coapted to tibial and peroneal nerves distally by end-to-end coaptation. Group 3 (n:8): As one end of the peroneal nerve graft, prepared by reverse end-to-side coaptation in the shape of a horseshoe, was coapted to the peroneal nerve distally, the other end was sutured directly by opening the fascia of the gastrocnemius muscle. Group 4 (n:8): As one end of the peroneal nerve graft, prepared by reverse end-to-side coaptation in the shape of a horseshoe, was coapted to peroneal nerve distally, the other end was ligated As seen in the histomorphometric analysis, axons were observed to sprout towards both ends of the horseshoe-shaped nerve graft in a free fashion without being affected by the negative influences of the microenvironment.