ABSTRACT
There is close relationship between the morphologic changes of peripheral nerve after injury and its function recovery during regeneration. In our experiment, the sciatic nerve of rats was transected and bridge-connected with silicone tube, and the images of serial slices of different time and different injury parts were taken by micro-photograph system. The volume unit model was applied to rendering the three dimensional (3D) structure of degenerative and regenerative sciatic nerve fiber and its affiliated structure after injury. The 3D images showed that node of Ranvier had not formed and its array was turbulent, both the myelin sheath and the axis-cylinder were thinner, and the collagen fibres had proliferated.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Nerve Regeneration , Physiology , Rats, Wistar , Recovery of Function , Sciatic Nerve , Wounds and Injuries , PathologyABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) and ciliary neurotrofic factor (CNTF) on the regeneration and functional recovery of sciatic nerves following sciatic nerve injuries (SNI). Methods The left sciatic nerves for 6 mm in 120 Wistar ratswere removed and divided randomly into 4 groups. Target muscular injection of NGF at concentration of 100 ng/kg and CNTF at 100 ng/kg was given to Group NGF+CNTF; CNTF at 100 ng/kg to Group CNTF; NGF at 100 ng/kg to Group NGF and equal quantity of normal saline to Group NS. Sciatic nerve functional index (SFI) measurement, morphometric analysis, S-100? and NF200 immunohistochemistry were performed for all the animals after operation. Results SFI, diameter and number of myelinated axons, and axonal quantity of S-100? and NF200 were significantly higher in Group NGF+CNTF than that in other groups. Conclusions Combined application of NGF and CNTF can enhance regeneration and functional recovery of sciatic nerves posterior to SNI.