Repair of sciatic nerve defects with VPA/PRGD conduits containing adipose-derived stem cells in a rat model

Abstract

Objective To observe enhancing effect of nerve regeneration on peripheral nerve defect models bridged by VPA/PRGD conduit combined with adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs ). Methods From February, 2013 to August, 2014, the hollow nerve scaffolds were constructed by PRGD and VPA. The activity of AD-SCs proliferation was tested through the method of CCK-8. Moreover, the effect of VPA/PRGD conduit combined with ADSCs on peripheral nerve regeneration was evaluated, as well as recovery of motor function following sciatic nerve resection in rats. A 10 mm sciatic nerve deficit was created in a rat model and bridged by VPA/PRGD conduit combined with ADSCs (group A), VPA/PRGD conduit (group B) and autograft (group C) respectively. The results was analyzed by the method of group t-test of SPSS 19.0. Results At 3 d, 6 d, 9 d, CCK-8 test showed that the OD value of groups VPA/PRGD and control has no significance (P > 0.05 ). At 12 weeks after surgery, the numbers of regenerated nerve proximal to the tube of group A (268±7.48), group B (269±6.86) and group C (271±7.55), had no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). The numbers of regenerated nerve in the tube of group A (257±6.19) and group C (260±5.60) were significantly higher than those of group B (229±5.08) (P 0.05). The numbers of regenerated nerve distal to the tube of group A (246± 5.89) and group C (247±5.02) were significantly higher than those of group B (214±7.55) (P 0.05 ). Conclusion These promising results illustrate that this novel VPA/PRGD combined with ADSCs conduit can obviously facilitate the regeneration of injured nerve in rats. Key words: Nerve regeneration; Tissue engineering; Valproic acid; Adipose derived mesenehymal stem cell