Salvatore D'Arpa1, Giovanni Zabbia2, Carla Cannizzaro3, Grazia Salimbeni4, Fulvio Plescia3, Alessio Vincenzo Mariolo2, Giovanni Cassata5, Luca Cicero5, Roberto Puleio6, Anna Martorana7, Francesco Moschella2, Adriana Cordova2. 1. a Plastische Heelkunde , Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent , Gent , Belgium. 2. b Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences , University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy. 3. c Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care 'GIUSEPPE D'ALESSANDRO' , University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy. 4. d S. Rossore Hospital , Pisa , Italy. 5. e Laboratory Animal House/Unit , Institute of Experimental Zooprophylactic of Sicily , Palermo , Italy. 6. f Histopathology and Immunohistochemistry Laboratory , Institute Experimental Zooprophylactic of Sicily , Palermo , Italy. 7. g Department of Human Pathology , University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of seeding the distal nerve suture with nerve fragments in rats. METHODS: On 20 rats, a 15 mm sciatic nerve defect was reconstructed with a nerve autograft. In the Study Group (10 rats), a minced 1 mm nerve segment was seeded around the nerve suture. In the Control Group (10 rats), a nerve graft alone was used. At 4 and 12 weeks, a walking track analysis with open field test (WTA), hystomorphometry (number of myelinated fibers (n), fiber density (FD) and fiber area (FA) and soleus and gastrocnemius muscle weight ratios (MWR) were evaluated. The Student t-test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: At 4 and 12 weeks the Study Group had a significantly higher n and FD (p = .043 and .033). The SMWR was significantly higher in the Study Group at 12 weeks (p = .0207). CONCLUSIONS: Seeding the distal nerve suture with nerve fragments increases the number of myelinated fibers, the FD and the SMWR. The technique seems promising and deserves further investigation to clarify the mechanisms involved and its functional effects.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of seeding the distal nerve suture with nerve fragments in rats. METHODS: On 20 rats, a 15 mm sciatic nerve defect was reconstructed with a nerve autograft. In the Study Group (10 rats), a minced 1 mm nerve segment was seeded around the nerve suture. In the Control Group (10 rats), a nerve graft alone was used. At 4 and 12 weeks, a walking track analysis with open field test (WTA), hystomorphometry (number of myelinated fibers (n), fiber density (FD) and fiber area (FA) and soleus and gastrocnemius muscle weight ratios (MWR) were evaluated. The Student t-test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: At 4 and 12 weeks the Study Group had a significantly higher n and FD (p = .043 and .033). The SMWR was significantly higher in the Study Group at 12 weeks (p = .0207). CONCLUSIONS: Seeding the distal nerve suture with nerve fragments increases the number of myelinated fibers, the FD and the SMWR. The technique seems promising and deserves further investigation to clarify the mechanisms involved and its functional effects.
Entities:
Keywords:
Nerve graft; nerve reconstruction; nerve regeneration; rat sciatic nerve