ABSTRACT
There have been many attempts for regeneration of peripheral nerve injury. In this study, we examined the in vivo effects of non-differentiated and neuronal differentiated adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in inducing the neuronal regeneration in the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats undergoing nerve defect bridged with the PCL nanotubes. Then, we performed immunohistochemical and histopathologic examinations, as well as the electromyography, in three groups: the control group (14 sciatic nerves transplanted with the PCL nanotube scaffold), the experimental group I (14 sciatic nerves with the non-differentiated ADSCs at a density of 7x105 cells/0.1 mL) and the experimental group II (14 sciatic nerves with the neuronal differentiated ADSCs at 7x105 cells/0.1 mL). Six weeks postoperatively, the degree of the neuronal induction and that of immunoreactivity to nestin, MAP-2 and GFAP was significantly higher in the experimental group I and II as compared with the control group. In addition, the nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was significantly higher in the experimental group I and II as compared with the control group (P=0.021 and P=0.020, respectively). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the NCV between the two experimental groups (P>0.05). Thus, our results will contribute to treating patients with peripheral nerve defects using PCL nanotubes with ADSCs.