RESUMO
[Objective]To compare two preparing procedures for larger chemically acellular nerve allografts (CANA). [Methods]The sciatic nerves of pigs were exposed by a muscle-splitting incision and were isolated free of the underlying fascia. The 60-mm-long segments of the nerve were obtained. They were treated according to the following decellularization processes.In group I,the nerve segments were treated with 7% Triton-100 solution and 7% sodium deoxycholate for two times.In group II,another protocol was created with the detergents Triton X-200,sulfobetaine-16,and sulfobetaine-10 for two times. The degrees of decellularization,activity of laminin,degrees of demyelination,and integrity of the nerve fiber tube were observed under microscope and were assessed by a scoring system.[Results]In both experimental groups the activity of laminin was present and the degrees of decellularization were complete. As for the demyelization of the nerve segments,the myelin sheath in Group II was partially preserved,but it completely disappeared in Group Ⅰ. The structure of the nerve fiber tube in Groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ were not as integral as that in the normal group.[Conclusion]It may be a better method for the larger CANA,to be treated with TritonX-100 and sodium deoxycholate during the decellularization procedure.