Effects of Topically Applied Contractubex® on Epidural Fibrosis and Axonal Regeneration in Injured Rat Sciatic Nerve.

Abstract

To investigate the effects of Contractubex® (Cx) on peripheral nerve regeneration and scar formation. A surgical procedure involving sciatic nerve incision in 24 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats followed by epineural suturing was performed. In weeks 4 and 12 following surgery, macroscopic, histological, functional, and electromyographic examinations of the sciatic nerve were conducted. No significant difference was found between the Cx group and the control group in terms of sciatic function index (SFI) and distal latency results at week 4 (p > 0.05). However, significant improvements in the Cx group were observed in SFI amplitudes and nerve action potentials at week 12 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Significant improvements were found in the amplitudes of nerve action potentials in the treatment group after weeks 4 and 12 (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). Macroscopically and histopathologically, epidural fibrosis decreased (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). For both measurement times, the treatment group had significantly higher numbers of axons (week 4, p < 0.05; week 12, p < 0.001), and the treatment group had better results regarding its axon area (weeks 4 and 12, p < 0.001) and myelin thickness (weeks 4 and 12, p < 0.05). Cx, which is applied topically in peripheral nerve injury, affects axonal regeneration and axonal maturation positively and reduces the functional loss.