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J Reconstr Microsurg 2003; 19(4): 271-278
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-40584
Copyright © 2003 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Expression of α, β, and γ Catenins in Vascularized and Nonvascularized Nerve Grafts During the Regeneration Process

Mitsuo Hatoko, Aya Tanaka, Masamitsu Kuwahara, Satoshi Yurugi, Hiroshi Iioka, Katsunori Niitsuma
  • Division of Plastic Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
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Publication Date:
14 July 2003 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The authors investigated the expression of three kinds of catenins (α, β, γ) in vascularized and non-vascularized nerve grafts, using the rat sciatic nerve model. The vascularized nerve, 15 mm in length, was elevated with its nutrient vessels in the left hindlimb of rats. In the right hindlimb, a 15-mm segment of the sciatic nerve was elevated (resected) without the nutrient vessels as a non-vascularized nerve. Both nerves were sutured to the original site. At various periods up to 14 weeks after operation, the entire graft was removed. Expression of three catenins was detected by Western blot analysis and histochemical staining, using the antibody to each catenin. The level of β catenin increased during nerve regeneration in both the vascularized and non-vascularized grafts, while the level of α and γ catenins did not increase in both grafts. There was no difference in the level of the three catenins between the two methods of nerve grafting. Histochemical findings showed that at the 4th and 14th postoperative weeks, α and γ catenins were stained diffusely in both grafts, while β catenin was stained around the regenerating axons in both grafts. The degree of β catenin was greater in the 4th postoperative week than in the 14th postoperative week, but no obvious difference in the degree of staining of the three catenins between two grafts was found. These results suggest that β catenin may play a different role from α and γ catenins in nerve regeneration, and that the expression of these catenins is not influenced by vascularization of the nerve graft.

KEYWORDS

Nerve graft - catenins - rat model

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1 *Written by Wayne Rasband at the US National Institutes of Health, and available on floppy disk from NITS, 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA, USA, part number PB93-504868