You have accessJournal of UrologyUrodynamics/Incontinence/Female Urology: Neurogenic Voiding Dysfunction1 Apr 20111501 FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY OF COMPLETELY DENERVATED MUSCLE BY DIRECT NERVE TRANSPLANTATION Sung Bum Kang, Anthony Atala, and James Yoo Sung Bum KangSung Bum Kang Winston Salem, NC More articles by this author , Anthony AtalaAnthony Atala Winston Salem, NC More articles by this author , and James YooJames Yoo Winston Salem, NC More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2011.02.1480AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES To engineer functional muscle tissue for reconstruction, integration of nerve is necessary. It is uncertain whether implantation of engineered muscle constructs, which is analogous to denervated muscle, could be innervated when native nervous tissue were provided. We investigated whether transplantation of native nerve into complete denervated muscle (neurotization) would lead to functional recovery and form neuromuscular junction. METHODS Eighty Lewis rats were divided into three groups: a normal control group (n=16); a denervated group (n=32); and a transplantation group (n=32). Denervation was achieved by removing a 10mm segment of the sciatic nerve branches. Direct nerve transplantation was achieved by embedding the common peroneal nerve into the gastrocnemius muscle after excision of tibial nerve and sensory nerve branch. Neurofunctional behavior including extensor postural thrust (EPT) and withdrawal reflex latency (WRL), compound muscle action potential (CMAP), and histological evaluations were performed. RESULTS EPT and WRL were improved in the transplantation group compared to the denervated group, but the levels were significantly lower than the normal control group, even at 12 weeks. CMAP latency and amplitude significantly improved in the transplantation group with time (P < 0.001), and at 12 weeks was not statistically different from the normal control group (latency, P = 0.164; amplitude, P = 0.184). Recovery of the neuromuscular junction was demonstrated histologically in the transplantation group. CONCLUSIONS These studies indicate that, while nerve transplantation allows regeneration of the neuromuscular junction, the function of the denervated muscle remains in the subnormal range even at 12 weeks. These results suggest that nerve transplantation should be combined with other supportive treatment to allow for a more complete recovery of muscle function. © 2011 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 185Issue 4SApril 2011Page: e602 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2011 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Sung Bum Kang Winston Salem, NC More articles by this author Anthony Atala Winston Salem, NC More articles by this author James Yoo Winston Salem, NC More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...