ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Schwann cells (SCs) and fibronectin (FN) support the growth of damaged axons and their conductive function. METHODS: Thirty adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into 3 groups (n=10), and the following grafts: both SCs and FN, FN, and basal medium were implanted respectively into the lumbar of spinal cords hemisected at vertebra T(12). RESULTS: At 6 weeks postoperation, the latencies of spinal cord evoked potential (SCEP) P(1) wave in the three groups were 1.57 ms, 1.84 ms, and 2.03 ms, respectively. The differences between SCs/FN group and the other two groups were statistically significant. The number of regenerated axons in SCs/FN group was significantly greater than that in FN group. The number of survival neurons in L(4) and L(5) left dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in SCs/FN group was significantly greater than that in the rest two groups respectively. The latencies of P(1) wave were significantly correlated with axon counts in both SCs/FN and FN groups. CONCLUSIONS: SCs/FN grafted to the hemisected lumbar of spinal cords can produce robust axon regeneration and promote partial repair of their conduction. Surface recording of SCEP technique has been proved to be a reliable and less-traumatic method for assessment of recovery of afferent conduction in hemisected spinal cord.