Tubulization with chitosan guides for the repair of long gap peripheral nerve injury in the rat
Gonzalez Perez, M. (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Neurociències)
Cobianchi, Stefano (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Neurociències)
Geuna, Stefano (Neuroscience institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi)
Barwig, Christina (Medovent GmbH)
Freier, Thomas (Medovent GmbH)
Udina i Bonet, Esther (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Neurociències)
Navarro, X. (Xavier) (Xavier) (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, de Fisiologia i d'Immunologia)

Date:	2015
Abstract:	Biosynthetic guides can be an alternative to nerve grafts for reconstructing severely injured peripheral nerves. The aim of this study was to evaluate the regenerative capability of chitosan tubes to bridge critical nerve gaps (15 mm long) in the rat sciatic nerve compared with silicone (SIL) tubes and nerve autografts (AGs). A total of 28 Wistar Hannover rats were randomly distributed into four groups (n = 7 each), in which the nerve was repaired by SIL tube, chitosan guides of low (∼2%, DAI) and medium (∼5%, DAII) degree of acetylation, and AG. Electrophysiological and algesimetry tests were performed serially along 4 months follow-up, and histomorphometric analysis was performed at the end of the study. Both groups with chitosan tubes showed similar degree of functional recovery, and similar number of myelinated nerve fibers at mid tube after 4 months of implantation. The results with chitosan tubes were significantly better compared to SIL tubes (P < 0. 01), but lower than with AG (P < 0. 01). In contrast to AG, in which all the rats had effective regeneration and target reinnervation, chitosan tubes from DAI and DAII achieved 43 and 57% success, respectively, whereas regeneration failed in all the animals repaired with SIL tubes. This study suggests that chitosan guides are promising conduits to construct artificial nerve grafts.
Grants:	European Commission 278612
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió sotmesa a revisió
Published in:	Microsurgery, Vol. 35, Issue 4 (May 2015) , p. 300-308, ISSN 1098-2752

DOI: 10.1002/micr.22362

Pre-print 24 p, 1.4 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Neurociències (INc)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles