ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of ciliary,neurotrophic factor (CNTF)-coated polyglycolic and polylactic acid (PGLA) nerve conduits treated by pulsed plasma to repair canine tibial nerve defects. Methods A 2.5 cm long tibial nerve defect was made in eighteen cross-bred dogs.The nerve defects were re- constructed by three different methods:group A:pulsed plasma treated and CNTF coated PGLA nerve conduits (n=6);group B:PGLA nerve conduits alone (n=6);group C:nerve autografts (n=6).HE staining, Massons' trichrome staining,S-100 immunostaining,electrophysiological test and axon counting were used to evaluate the results of nerve regeneration in three groups.In addition,the dynamic walking pattern was recor- ded individually.The observation period lasted for three months.Results All nerve conduits were well vas- cularized and mostly degraded as well as absorbed.It was found that the regenerating axons could traverse all nerve conduits.In regard to nerve conduction velocity and axon counting there was no significant difference be- tween group A and group C (P＞0.05),while the data of group A and group C were significantly better than those of group B(P＜0.05).The dogs in group A and C recovered nearly normal walk pattern while those in group B were still crippled.Conclusion Pulsed plasm-treated and then CNTF-coated PGLA nerve conduits could effectively repair 2.5-cm-long canine tibial nerve defects,and the effect is similar to that of autografts.