Regeneration of rat sciatic nerve promoted by sustained-release diaphragm of RGD peptide grafted poly[LA-(Gic-Lys)], FK506 and nerve growth factor

Abstract

Objective To observe the effect of sustained-release diaphragm of the RGD peptide grafted poly[LA-(Glc-Lys)], FKS06 and nerve growth factor(NGF) on bridging a 5 mm gap of sciatic nerve in rats. Methods Twenty-four aduh male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 even groups. Defects of 5 mm long were created at the left sciatic nerve in all the rats, and bridged respectively with the sus-tained-release diaphragm of RGD peptide grafted poly[LA-(Glc-Lys)], FKS06 and NGF (Group A), the sustained-release diaphragm of RGD peptide grafted poly[LA-(Glc-Lys)] and FKS06 (Group B) and the di-aphragm of RGD peptide grafted poly[LA-(GIc-Lys)] (Group C). FKS06 and NGF were O. 48 mg and 2 μg respectively in Group A, and FKS06 was 0.72 mg in Group B and Group C as a control. Three months postoperatively, the results were evaluated by gross observing, eleetrophysiology, weighing of gastrocnemius muscles, histological changes and morphometric analysis. Results Three months postoperatively, all the diaphragms were crisp and remained intact in appearance, and the regenerative nerve in the 3 groups had bridged the defects. Group A had better results than Groups B and C in all the indexes examined. Con-clusions The sustained-release diaphragm of RGD peptide grafted pely[LA-(Gle-Lys)], FK506 and NGF can efficiently promote the regeneration of injured sciatic nerve in rats, and reduce the use of FK506 when FK506 and NGF are used together.