Abstract
To evaluate the capacity of natural latex membrane to accelerate and improve the regeneration quality of the of rat sciatic nerves. Forty male adult Wistar rats were used, anesthetized and operated to cut the sciatic nerve and receive an autograft or a conduit made with a membrane derived from natural latex (Hevea brasiliensis). Four or eight weeks after surgery, to investigate motor nerve recovery, we analyzed the neurological function by walking pattern (footprints analysis and computerized treadmill), electrophysiological evaluation and histological analysis of regenerated nerve (autologous nerve graft or tissue cables between the nerve stumps), and anterior tibial and gastrocnemius muscles. All functional and morphological analysis showed that the rats transplanted with latex conduit had a better neurological recovery than those operated with autologous nerve: quality of footprints, performance on treadmill (p<0.01), electrophysiological response (p<0.05), and quality of histological aspects on neural regeneration. The data reported showed behavioral and functional recovery in rats implanted with latex conduit for sciatic nerve repair, supporting a complete morphological and physiological regeneration of the nerve.
Highlights
MethodsTraumatic injury to peripheral nerves is not an uncommon casualty and results from trauma due to vehicle accidents and less commonly from penetrating trauma, falls, and industrial accidents
Since the latex membrane has a potential for regeneration of several tissues, and a satisfactory conduit for guiding the repair of peripheral nerves is not yet developed, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of a conduit engineer with a membrane derived from natural latex to accelerate and improve the regeneration quality of rat sciatic nerves
We evaluated the presence of regenerated nerve within the conduit and in the autograft (M1 and M2), the conditions of the nerve segment before de proximal point of surgery (P), the presence of nerve regeneration in the distal portion of the implant (D), degree of myelination and density of the regenerated nerve fibers within M1 and M2, and presence of nerve fibers interspersed within the muscle fibers
Summary
MethodsTraumatic injury to peripheral nerves is not an uncommon casualty and results from trauma due to vehicle accidents and less commonly from penetrating trauma, falls, and industrial accidents. Even with advances in repair techniques and new technologies involved, the surgical results are often disappointing especially when there is total transected nerve or when the nerve injury resulted in substance loss between the two nerve stumps[2]. These facts led to the development of techniques using nerve grafts[3] or conduits that bridge the ends and guide the growth of nerve fibers between the stumps, including the use of natural or synthetic materials[2,4,5]. Since the latex membrane has a potential for regeneration of several tissues, and a satisfactory conduit for guiding the repair of peripheral nerves is not yet developed, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of a conduit engineer with a membrane derived from natural latex to accelerate and improve the regeneration quality of rat sciatic nerves
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