Use of chitosan scaffolds for repairing rat sciatic nerve defects

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Simoes, MJ (Author) Other; Amado, S (Author) Other; Gartner, A (Author) Other; Armada da Silva, PAS (Author) Other; Raimondo, S (Author) Other; Vieira, M (Author) Other; Luis, AL (Author) ICBAS; Shirosaki, Y (Author) Other; Veloso, AP (Author) Other; Santos, JD (Author) FEUP; Varejao, ASP (Author) Other; Geuna, S (Author) Other; Mauricio, AC (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology

Vol. 115 No. 3

Pages: 190-210

ISSN: 1122-6714

Publisher: Editrice II Sedicesimo

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge

Scopus - 20 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-007-X2S

Abstract (EN): Neurotmesis must be surgically treated by direct end-to-end suture of the two nerve stumps or by a nerve graft harvested from elsewhere in the body in case of tissue loss. To avoid secondary damage due to harvesting of the nerve graft, a tube-guide can be used to bridge the nerve gap. Previously, our group developed and tested hybrid chitosan membranes for peripheral nerve tubulization and showed that freeze-dried chitosan type III membranes were particularly effective for improving peripheral nerve functional recovery after axonotmesis. Chitosan type III membranes have about 110 ¿m pores and about 90% of porosity, due to the employment of freezedrying technique. The present study aimed to verify if chitosan type III membranes can be successfully used also for improving peripheral nerve functional recovery after neurotmesis of the rat sciatic nerve. Sasco Sprague-Dawley adult rats were divided into 6 groups: Group 1: end-to-end neurorrhaphy enwrapped by chitosan membrane type III (End-to-EndChitIII); Group 2: 10mmnerve gap bridged by an autologous nerve graft enwrapped by chitosan membrane type III (Graft180°ChitIII); Group 3: 10mm-nerve gap bridged by chitosan type III tube-guides (GapChitIII); These 3 experimental groups were compared with 3 control groups, respectively: Group 4:10mmnerve gap bridged by an autologous nerve graft (Graft180°); Group 5: 10mm-nerve gap bridged by PLGA 90:10 tube-guides (PLGA); Group 6: end-to-end neurorrhaphy alone (End-to-End). Motor and sensory functional recovery were evaluated throughout a healing period of 20 weeks using extensor postural thrust (EPT), withdrawal reflex latency (WRL) and ankle kinematics. Regenerated nerves withdrawn at the end of the experiment were analysed histologically. Results showed that nerve regeneration was successful in all experimental and control groups and that chitosan type III tubulization induced a significantly better nerve regeneration and functional recovery in comparison to PLGA tubulization control. Further investigation is needed to explore the mechanisms at the basis of the positive effects of chitosan type III on axonal regeneration. © 2010 Firenze University Press.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 21