ABSTRACT
Objective To compare their competence to repair peripheral nerve defect between lami-na propria glial cells and olfactory bulb glial cells. Methods Glial cells in nasal lamina propria and olfac-tory bulb had been cultured in vitro for 2 weeks, then purified and condensed for later transplantation. 60 adult wistar rats were randomized into three groups of 20 rats each: A (control), B (glial cells in olfactory bulb were transplanted into epineuria lumen) and C (glial cells in lamina propria were transplanted into epineuria lumen). Rats' left sciatic nerves were excised 25 mm long axons and retained epineuria lumen anastomosed to proximal ends. Culture mediums, glial cells in olfactory bulb and in lamina propria were transplanted into epineuria lumen of A, B, and C groups respectively. At 3 months postoperative,the regeneration of injured sciatic nerves were evaluated by methods of gross observation, microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, the retrograde fluorescence gold, the immunofluorescence assay of glial fibre acid protein and nerve growth factors, the enzyme linked immunoassay of myelin basic protein and neurofilament protein, and the extremity function scores. Results The regeneration of injured sciatic nerve and the function of injured limbs were su-perior in C group to in B group and in A group. The transportation distance of retro-marked fluorescence red and the concentrations of glial fibre acid protein, nerve growth factors, myelin basic protein and neurofila-ment protein in injured sciatic nerve were high in C group, middle in B group, and low in A group. The dif-ference between groups had statistical significance. Conclusion Olfactory ensheathing cells could repairinjured nerve defect and the competence that the olfactory cells in lamina propria were superior to in olfacto-ry bulb.
ABSTRACT
Objective To compare olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) and Schwann cells (SCs) in respect of their abilities to repair nerve defects. Methods OECs and SCs were cultured in vitro for 2 weeks before they were purified and condensed for later transplantation. Sixty adult female Wistar rats were randomized into 3 even groups. After a 25 mm length of axons was excised but the epineurial lumen was re-tained, the left sciatic nerves were anastomosed to the proximal ends. Cell culture medium, SCs and OECs were transplanted into the epineurial lumen in A, B, C groups respectively. Three months postoperatively, regeneration of the injured sciatic nerves was evaluated by gross observation, microscopy, transmission elec-tron microscopy, transportation distance of retro-marked fluorescence red, immunofluorescence assay of the glial fiber acid protein and nerve growth factors, enzyme linked immunoassay of myelin basic protein and neurofilament protein, as well as ankle function evaluation. Results By gross observation, regeneration of the injured sciatic nerves was the best in group C and the poorest in group A. In aspects of growth of nerve fibers observed by microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, the transportation distance of retro-marked fluorescence red in the injured sciatic nerves observed by fluoroscopy, glial fiber acid protein and nerve growth factors tested by immunofluorescence assay, concentrations of myelin basic protein and neuro-filament protein in the injured nerves tested by enzyme linked immunoassay, as well as in the mean ankle function score, group C was the best, next was group B , and group A was the poorest. The differences be-tween groups had statistical significance (P < 0.05). Conclusion OECa transplantation can repair in-jured nerves and has better effects than SCs transplantation.