Nerve growth factor with fibrin glue in end-to-side nerve repair in rats

Daniel Nunes E Silva,Ricardo Dutra Aydos,Rafael José De Castro,Fausto Viterbo,Andréia Conceição Milan Brochado Antoniolli Da Silva Silva,Elenir Rose Jardim Cury Pontes,Danilo Nakao Odashiro,Diogo Gomes Augusto

doi:10.1590/s0102-86502012000400008

Daniel Nunes E Silva, Ricardo Dutra Aydos + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-86502012000400008

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Abstract

To determine the effects of end-to-side nerve repair performed only with fibrin glue containing nerve growth in rats. Seventy two Wistar rats were divided into six equal groups: group A was not submitted to nerve section; group B was submitted to nerve fibular section only. The others groups had the nerve fibular sectioned and then repaired in the lateral surface of an intact tibial nerve, with different procedures: group C: ETS with sutures; group D: ETS with sutures and NGF; group E: ETS with FG only; group F: ETS with FG containing NGF. The motor function was accompanied and the tibial muscle mass, the number and diameter of muscular fibers and regenerated axons were measured. All the analyzed variables did not show any differences among the four operated groups (p>0.05), which were statistically superior to group B (p<0.05), but inferior to group A (p>0.05). The end-to-side nerve repair presented the same recovery pattern, independent from the repair used, showing that the addition of nerve growth factor in fibrin glue was not enough for the results potentiating.

Highlights

MethodsThe repair of peripheral nerves even under ideal conditions has frequently presented non-satisfactory results
Following the goods reports related to the usage of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) at endto-end nerve repair (ETE) it was considered to evaluate its role at end-to-side nerve repair (ETS)
As in ETE the main difficulty in evaluating the NGF at the ETS was in developing the right way to present it at the repair point with the right dosage and for a longer time – preventing its fast in vivo degradation[13]

Summary

Introduction

The repair of peripheral nerves even under ideal conditions has frequently presented non-satisfactory results. The axonal regeneration rarely reaches the previous levels and the sequelae are very frequent. The need for the discovery of alternatives for improving results of nerve repairs is a challenge reported by many authors for years[1,2,3,4]. Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) has been highlighted in literature as an important neuroprotector and neurostimulator, facilitating the nerve post trauma regeneration and obtaining better post-operatory results[5]. Despite being highly desirable the NGF application in nerve repair is difficult and complex[5]. The already described alternatives for applying NGF are of high cost, difficult clinical applicability and uncertain efficiency[1,2]. The search for the ideal method still persists what hampers its usage in large scale[3,5]

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Discussion

Conclusion