Addition of nerve growth factor to the interior of a tubular prosthesis increases sensory neuron regeneration in vivo.

The sciatic nerve of adult mice was transected and the proximal and distal nerve stumps were sutured into a polyethylene tube. The tubes were implanted either empty, or the lumen was filled with pure collagen or a mixture of collagen/nerve growth factor (NGF). Six weeks later, cells in the L3-L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were retrogradely filled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The data demonstrate that the addition of NGF to the interior of the tubular prosthesis can significantly increase the regeneration rate of sensory neurons.