Functional outcomes of nerve allografts augmented with mesenchymal stem cells and surgical angiogenesis in a rat sciatic nerve defect model.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Motor function recovery following acellular nerve allograft (ANA) repair remains inferior to autologous nerve reconstruction. We investigated the functional recovery of ANAs after combined mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) delivery and surgical angiogenesis in a rat sciatic nerve defect model.

Methods

In 100 Lewis rats, unilateral sciatic nerve defects were reconstructed with (I) autografts, (II) ANAs, (III) ANAs wrapped with a superficial inferior epigastric artery fascial (SIEF) flap, combined with either (IV) undifferentiated MSCs or (V) Schwann cell-like differentiated MSCs. The tibialis anterior muscle area was evaluated during the survival period using ultrasonography. Functional recovery, histomorphometry, and immunofluorescence were assessed at 12 and 16 weeks.<

SUBMITTER: Bedar M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10842349 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature