Planting fetus rabbit schwann cells into the extracted acellular nerve graft of homogeneity in repairing rabbit sciatic nerve defect

Abstract

Objective To plant fetus rabbit Schwann cells that were cultured and purified in vitro into the chemically extracted acellular nerve graft of homogeneity and made it into bridging complex. Then transplant the bridging complex into the rabbit defective sciatic nerve. The experiment was designed to investigate the effect of the nerve allografts on the functional recovery and the condition of nerve regeneration. Methods 48 adult healthy New-Zealand albino rabbits,weighing 1.5-2.0 kg,were randomly divided into 2 groups with 24 rabbits each group,based on different grafts. The bridging complex were composed of Schwann cell, then transplanted it to repair defective sciatic nerve of the experiment group rabbit. The control group did not transplant Schwann cells. The sciatic nerve of lower left limb was cut in order to emerge 2cm nerves defect for each rabbit,then was transplated with different grafts. Observed the ulcers on the feet of the rabbit 4,8 and 16 weeks after operation. To observe sciatic nerve regeneration and myelination by light microscope. To observe the information of nerve regeneration and myelination and the ultrastructural change of the mitochondrion, the microtubule, the microfilament and Schwann cells by electron microscope. Make use of the analytical system on picture to treat the number of regenerated nerve fiber and the axon diameter and the thickness of myelin sheath of medullated nerve fibers,then measured the wet weight of the triceps surae. Then analyzed them in statistics. Results After operation, the immunological rejection was not found in the operating field. The experimental group was better than the control group in healing of ulcers, after 4,8,16 weeks,the number of regenerated nerve fiber and the axon diameter and the thickness of myelin sheath of medullated nervefibers (906.25 ± 30.68,1726.25 ±51. 89,2825.13 ± 22.79) , (5.35 ± 0.62,5.46 ±0.38,5.59 ±0.80), (1.65 ±0.37,1.75 ±0.41,1.83 ±0.49) (P 0.05). But after 8 and 16 weeks,the wet weight of the triceps surae of the experimental group(5.62 ±0.99,7.38 ±0.26) was better than the control group (P<0. 05). Conclusion The acellular nerve allografts transplanted with SCs could significantly promote nerve regeneration and functional recovery of injured sciatic nerve. Key words: Schwann cells; Peripheral nerve defect; Nerve regeneration