ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the possibility of repairing injured facial nerve with tissue engineering technology and neural stem cells(NSCs).The complex consisted of NSCs,scaffold and NT-3.NSCs were immature cells with the potential of self-renewal and multiple differentiation to neurons and glial cells.The scaffold with porous surface was made of hyaluronic acid and collagen(HA-Col gel) which degenerate in vivo after transplantation.NT-3 is the signal to promote neurons survival in vitro.Methods NSCs of S-D rat were co-cultured with scaffold and NT-3 in vitro.The two stumps of disconnected facial nerve of rabbit were re-connected with the complex.Electrophysiology and morphology tests were used to examine functional and morphological changes.Results Result] NSCs adhered to the HA-Col gel and survived.Injured facial nerve fixed by NSCs-HA-Col gel-NT-3 complex showed significant improvement in function and anatomical structure.Conclusion Combinative implant of NSCs,HA-Col gel and NT-3 may promote the regeneration of injured facial nerve.