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J Reconstr Microsurg 2004; 20(2): 167-174
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-820774
Copyright © 2004 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA

Interposed Autologous Nerve Segment Stimulates Nerve Regeneration in Peripheral Nerve Allografts in a Rat Model

Naoki Sugita1 , Osamu Ishida2 , Yoshikazu Ikuta1 , Haruhiko Takata3 , Hiroki Kajihara4 , Yoshimasa Tomita2 , Mitsuo Ochi2
  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, JR Hiroshima General Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
  • 2Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
  • 3Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Miyoshi Central Hospital, Miyoshi, Japan
  • 4Division of Pathology, Hiroshima Prefectural College of Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

accepted: September 23, 2003

Publication Date:
09 March 2004 (online)

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The ability of autologous nerve segments interposed between allografts, to increase the total nerve-gap distance, was studied. Sciatic nerve allografts were carried out in a rat model. A 15-mm nerve gap was repaired with a 25-mm nerve graft (interposed group: allo-auto-allograft; control group: allo-allo-allograft). Cyclosporin was given for 12 weeks. Nerve regeneration was evaluated using the weight of the anterior tibial muscle and histologic, morphometric and immunohistochemical analyses at 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, and 24 weeks. Nerve regeneration in the interposed group was statistically significantly better than that in the control group. The authors concluded that a nerve allograft with interposed autograft may enhance nerve regeneration in this model, because of the migration of host-derived Schwann cells into the graft from not only the proximal and distal host nerve stumps, but also the interposed autograft.

KEYWORDS

Peripheral nerve allograft - nerve regeneration - interposed nerve graft - immunohistochemistry

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Naoki SugitaM.D. 

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, JR Hiroshima General Hospital

3-1-36, Futabanosato, Higashi-ku

Hiroshima 732-0057, Japan

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