Basing on the experimental results, 48 nerve defects (with the length of 3-4 cm in 21 cases, 4.1-5cm in 25 cases and 6cm in 2 cases) were repaired clinically by using vaseularized nerve sheath canal with living Schwann s cells, 87.5 percent of them obtained good results. The advantages were: (1) The neural sheath had rich blood supply with resultant less scar from its healing; (2) The living Schwann s cells would secrete somatomedin to promote the reproduction of neural tissues; and (3) The useless neurofib...
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on mRNA expression of NGF and IGF-1 in injured nerve. METHODS: Sciatic nerve injury model was established by transection of right side sciatic nerve in 90 male SD rats, which were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group was treated with electroacupuncture, no treatment in the control group. The distal part of the injured nerve was harvested after 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10 weeks of operation and stored in the liquid nitrogen. The total RNA was extracted by the TRIzol reagent. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to detected the mRNA expression of NGF and IGF-1. RESULTS: The mRNA expression of NGF in the experimental group was increased quickly from the second week, and reached to highest level in the fourth week. It was much higher than that of the control group (P lt; 0.05). Then it began to decline in following time and approximately reached to the level of the first week after 10 weeks of operation. The mRNA expression of IGF-1 in the experimental group was remarkably increased in the second and fourth week, and which was much higher than that of the control group respectively(P lt; 0.05). Although the mRNA expression of IGF-1 after 10 weeks of operation in the experimental group was higher than that of the control group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups(P gt; 0.05). There was linear correlation in the fourth week between mRNA expression of NGF and IGF-1 in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The mRNA expression of NGF and IGF-1 can be elevated in injured nerve at early stage interfered with electroacupuncture.
Objective To explore the possible mechanism of nerve growth factor (NGF) mixed insul in on the angiogenesis of burn wounds and the effect on the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in diabetic rats. Methods A total of 75 SPF male Wistar rats, weighing 200-220 g, were selected randomly and divided into nomal control (group A, n=15), the rats with diabetic control (group B, n=15), insul in treatment (group C, n=15), NGF treatment (group D, n=15), NGF and insul in treatment (group E, n=15) groups. In groups B, C, D, and E, streptozotocin was given by intraperitoneal injection at dose of 10 mg/kg on the 1st day and 50 mg/kg on the 3rd day to prepare the diabetic rat models. In group A, citric acid buffer at the samedose was given. After 1 month of diabetic models, second degree scald was made on the back of the rats, and then wounds were treated with 3-layer normal sal ine gauze in groups A and B, with 3-layer gauze containing 5 U Novol in 30R and subcutaneous injection of Novol in 30R (4-6 U/kg) everyday in group C, with 3-layer gauze containing 5 mL NGF (25 U/mL) in group D, and with a combination of groups C and D in group E. At 7, 11, 15, and 21 days, the wound heal ing rate was calculated; at 3, 7, 11, 15, and 21 days, the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and CD34 were determined and the microvascular density was measured by immunohistochemistry staining. Results All rats survived till experiment was finished. The area of wounds became smaller gradually with time. Group E was better than other groups in the wound heal ing rate (P lt; 0.05), the skin keratosis, the hair growth, and the granulation tissue and collagen fibers growth. With time, the expressions of CD34 and Bcl-2 increased gradually, reached the peak at 15 days and decreased at 21 days; the expression was ber in group E than in other groups (P lt; 0.05). At 3 days, Bax did not express; at 7 days, Bax began to express in new vascular endothel ial cells and the expression increased gradually with time; the expression was weaker in group E than in other groups (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion A combination of NGF and insul in local appl ication can enhance the angiogenesis of the burn wound in diabetic rats and accelerate wound heal ing by increasing the expression of Bcl-2 and decreasing the expression of Bax and restraining apoptosis of the wounds vascular endothel ial cells of diabetic rats.
It has been proved that the bovine seminal plasma contains rich source of NGF around 0.1mg of pure NGF can be isolated from 10ml bovine seminal plasma. Modifying Gregory s method, we first successfully obtained the low molecular weight form of bovine NGF in China.We chose the dorsal root sensory ganglia (DRG) of embryonic chicken as a cultured nerve tissue, the NGF purified from seminal plasma is added to cultural plate with 96 holes. The cultural process was without plus serum and showed the high biological activity. It was found that this method has the advantages of simple technique, satisfactory result. It is an ibeal method for assaying the biological effect of NGF.
To investigate the objective method for electrophysiological examination in evaluating the functional recovery in motor nerve regeneration, 30 rabbits were divided into 5 groups randomly. The common peroneal nerve on left side of every rabbit was sectioned and repaired by epineural suture, while that of the right side was left intact as control. In 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th and 16th week after operation, the muscle power and the changes of the electrophysiological parameters of the nerve and the muscle were determined dynamically. The linear correlation analysis was used to assess their relationship. The results showed that the electrophysiological parameters and muscle contractibility revealed signs of recovery in parallel. There was a significant linear relationship among the amplitude of the muscle action potential, velocity of nerve-muscle conductivity and muscle contractibility. The conclusion was that the electrophysiological examination of motor nerve and muscle could be used to assess the regeneration of the motor nerve, and it would also reflect the recovery of muscle contactibility in the early stage.
In order to investigate the effect of nerve compression on neurons, the commonly used model of chronic nerve compression was produced in 48 SD rats. The rats were sacrificed in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months after compression, respectively. The number of neuron and ultrashruchure of alpha-motor neurons and ganglion cells of the corresponding spinal segment were examined. The results showed as following: After the sciatic nerve were crushed, the number of neuron and ultrastructure of alpha-motor neurons and ganglion cells might undergo ultrastructural changes, and even the death might occur. These changes might be aggravated as the time of crushing was prolonged and the compression force was increased. It was concluded that for nerve compression, decompression should be done as early as possible in order to avoid or minimize the ultructural changes of the neuron.
ObjectiveTo study the effect of the loaded concentration gradient of nerve growth factor (NGF) immobilized conduit on rat peripheral nerve defect repair. MethodsThe peripheral nerve conduits made of poly (ε-caprolactone)-block-poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) were prepared with uniform loads or concentration gradient loads by combining differential absorption of NGF/silk fibroin (SF) coating, and the gradient of NGF was immobilized in the nerve conduits. ELISA method was used to exam the NGF release for 12 weeks in vitro. Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats (weighing, 220-250 g) were selected to establish the right sciatic nerve defect model (14 mm in length) and randomly divided into 4 groups according to repair methods. The transected nerve was bridged by a blank conduit without NGF in group A, by a conduit containing uniform loads of NGF in group B, by a conduit concentration gradient loads of NGF in group C, and by the autogenous nerve segment in group D. The gross observation, electrophysiological examination, histological observation, and transmission electron microscope observation were carried out to assess the nerve regeneration at 12 weeks after surgery. ResultsThe cumulative release amount of NGF was (14.2±1.4) ng/mg and (13.7±1.3) ng/mg in gradient of NGF loaded conduits and uniform NGF loaded conduits respectively at 12 weeks, showing no significant difference (t=0.564, P=0.570). All the animals survived to completion of the experiment; plantar ulcers occurred at 4 days, which healed at 12 weeks; groups C and D were better than groups A and B in ulcerative healing. At 12 weeks after surgery, the compound muscle action potential of group A was significantly lower than that of groups B, C, and D (P<0.05), and group B was significantly lower than groups C and D (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups C and D (P>0.05). The axon density of group C was significantly higher that of groups A, B, and D (P<0.05); group D was significantly higher than groups A, B, and C, and group C was significantly higher than groups A and B in the axon number, axon diameter, and area of muscle fiber (P<0.05); the thickness of myelin sheath of groups C and D was significantly larger than that of groups A and B (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups C and D (P>0.05). ConclusionGradient of NGF loaded nerve condnits for rat sciatic nerve defect has similar results to autogenous nerve, with a good bridge, which can promote the sciatic nerve regeneration, improve the myelinization of the regenerating nerve, and accelerate the function reconstruction of the regenerating nerve.
Objective To identify the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its high affinity receptor (tyrosine kinase receptor A, TrkA) during bone induction by recombined human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and to discuss the role of NGF on the bone induction of the BMP. Methods Thirty-six ICR mice were divided into the experimental groupand the control group at random. rhBMP-2 /collagen sponge and collagen sponge were implanted into the right thigh muscle pouches of the mice in the experimental group and the control group, respectively. The tissues in the implanted site of the two groups were removed on the 7th, 14th and 21st day after the implantation. Histological, immunohistochemical and RT-PCR analyses were performed to detect osteoinductive effects of rhBMP-2 and the expression of NGF and TrkA. Results Gross observation showed that a solid lump was found in theright thigh in the experimental group on the 7th day and became harder on the 14th and 21st day, which was not found in the control group. rhBMP-2/collagen sponge displayed a potent ability to induce bone formation, while immunostaining for NGF and TrkA was observed in the course of osteoinduction by rhBMP-2. On the 7th day in the experimental group, NGF positive immunostaining reached the peak in thestage of chondrogenesis and there were a large number of cells expressing NGF, including fibroblasts, chondroblasts, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts; then, therewas a decrease in the number of the positivecells and in the intensity of immunostaining on the 14th and 21st day. Staining of TrkA wassimilar to that of NGF. The expression level of the mRNA of NGF during the course of bone induction peaked 7 days after the implantation and then decreased. Conclusion rhBMP-2/collagen is a kind of satisfactory osteoinductive material, and many different kinds of cells induced by rhBMP-2 can express NGF and TrkA, which suggests that NGF may play an important role in the osteogenesis initiated by exogenous BMP through direct and indirect pathways.
To find new technique for repair of peripheral nerve defect, the nerve elongation repair technique was adopted. Two cases with nerve defect were treated by this method. One was a 12 year old male, the defect length of right radial nerve was 7.2 cm at the elbow. The other one was a 28 year old male, the defect length of left ulnar nerve the was 5 cm at elbow. In this method, the nerve was elongated by slow stretch from distal and proximal end of the ruptured nerve. After a few days, the nerve was repaired by direct suture. After operation, the function of nerves were recovered in 119 days and 114 days respectively. Follow-up for 5 years, the function of the effected limbs were recovered to the normal side. It was concluded that: (1) the peripheral never can be elongated by slow stretch; (2) to stretch the nerve end in a rubber tube can prevent adhesion and connective tissue blocking; (3) strength and supporting point of stretching should be designed carefully.
Twenty adult healthy rabbits were divided into 2 groups at random. Under the identical experimental conditions, cut the trunk of the right facial nerve. Two weeks later. the caudal end of the divided facial nerve was anastomized with the cephalad end of the divided main trunk of the nerve to the masseter muscle. The experimental group was stimulated by music, twenty minutes of each time, three times a day. From the results it was noted that the rate of growth of the nerve in the experimental group was more rapid than that of the contril group.