ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Artificial nerve grafts of human hair keratin are a kind of biological products. It has low antigenicity,absorbability and stimulation to nerve fiber growth following specific biochemistry. It is hoped to have better effect than otherartificial nerve grafts. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anatomy and histocompatibility of artificial nerve grafts of the human-hair keratin, and toobserve its effects on the repair of peripheral nerves. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Randomized, controlled, animal experiment. The study was performed at the Animal CentralLaboratory of Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College between November 2006 and June 2008. MATERIALS: Artificial nerve grafts of human hair keratin is a compound of human hair processed by specific controlledbiochemistry based on ground substance, embedded with a layer of biological membrane. It has low antigenicity, absorbabilityand stimulation to nerve fiber growth following specific biochemistry. METHODS: Eighteen Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. The sciatic nerve, 10 mm, was removed andtransplanted with human-hair keratin graft, skeletal muscle and untreated hair, respectively.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The characteristics of histomorphology and anatomy were observed at 8, 12, 24 weeks afterthe surgery. RESULTS: White tissues appeared between the broken ends of the sciatic nerve at 8 post-operative week in the graft group,and appeared in the graft space in human-hair keratin at the 12th week. At the 24th week, a large amount of infantile myelinatednerve fibers were observed under optical microscope regenerating around the human hair, which was partially degraded andabsorbed. Schwann cells were observed under an electron microscope and myelinization. CONCLUSION: The artificial nerve grafts of the human-hair keratin are well compatible with the body tissues, and couldinduce nerve regeneration.