Dong Hyun Kim1, Seung-Han Shin1, Myeong-Kyu Lee2, Jae-Jin Lee1, Jae Kwang Kim3, Yang-Guk Chung4. 1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Banpo-daero 222, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Korea. 2. Department of Research and Development, Korea Public Tissue Bank, 37 Sagimakgol-ro 62beon-gil, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13211, Korea. 3. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 05505, Korea. 4. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Banpo-daero 222, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Korea. ygchung@catholic.ac.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Decellularized nerve allografting is one of promising treatment options for nerve defect. As an effort to develop more efficient nerve graft, recently we have developed a new decellularization method for nerve allograft. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and biocompatibility of nerve graft decellularized by our newly developed method. METHODS: Forty-eight inbred male Lewis rats were divided into two groups, Group I (autograft group, n = 25), Group II (decellularized isograft group, n = 23). Decellularized nerve grafts were prepared with our newly developed methods using amphoteric detergent and nuclease treatment. Serum cytokine level measurements at 0, 2, and 4 weeks and histologic evaluation for inflammatory cell infiltration at 6 and 16 weeks after nerve graft. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in mean maximum isometric tetanic force and weight of tibialis anterior muscle or ankle angle at toe-off phase between two groups at 6 and 16 weeks survival time points (p > 0.05). There was no inflammatory cell infiltration in either group and histomorphometric assessments of 6- and 16-week specimens of the isograft group did not differ from those in the autograft group with regard to number of fascicle, cross sectional area, fascicle area ratio, and number of regenerated nerve cells. CONCLUSION: Based on inflammatory reaction, axonal regeneration, and functional outcomes, our newly developed decellularized nerve grafts were fairly biocompatible and had comparable effectiveness to autografts for nerve regeneration, which suggested it would be suitable for nerve reconstruction as an alternative to autograft.
BACKGROUND: Decellularized nerve allografting is one of promising treatment options for nerve defect. As an effort to develop more efficient nerve graft, recently we have developed a new decellularization method for nerve allograft. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and biocompatibility of nerve graft decellularized by our newly developed method. METHODS: Forty-eight inbred male Lewis rats were divided into two groups, Group I (autograft group, n = 25), Group II (decellularized isograft group, n = 23). Decellularized nerve grafts were prepared with our newly developed methods using amphoteric detergent and nuclease treatment. Serum cytokine level measurements at 0, 2, and 4 weeks and histologic evaluation for inflammatory cell infiltration at 6 and 16 weeks after nerve graft. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in mean maximum isometric tetanic force and weight of tibialis anterior muscle or ankle angle at toe-off phase between two groups at 6 and 16 weeks survival time points (p > 0.05). There was no inflammatory cell infiltration in either group and histomorphometric assessments of 6- and 16-week specimens of the isograft group did not differ from those in the autograft group with regard to number of fascicle, cross sectional area, fascicle area ratio, and number of regenerated nerve cells. CONCLUSION: Based on inflammatory reaction, axonal regeneration, and functional outcomes, our newly developed decellularized nerve grafts were fairly biocompatible and had comparable effectiveness to autografts for nerve regeneration, which suggested it would be suitable for nerve reconstruction as an alternative to autograft.