Study on reconstruction of afferent pathway after repairing transected dorsal root / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To provide the morphological evidence for sensory pathway by the repair of dorsal root (DR) in which received transected and anastomosed with central processes (DR) and peripheral processes (spinal nerve) respectively. Methods 74 SD rats were divided into three groups randomly. Group A the distal ending of L6 DR was sutured to the proximal ending of the L4 DR in right side. Group B the postganglionic spinal nerve of L4 was cut at a point 2 mm to intervertebral foramen and its proximal stump was reconnected to the distal ending of L6 DR in right side. Group C under the same operative manipulation on group B, but no anastomosis was performed to serve as the sham operation group. The left side was kept intact and served as a normal control in all groups. The repairing results of DR axonal regeneration were evaluated at 3 months after operation by retrograde tracing, the density of positive Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) axon in dorsal root entry zone (DREZ), survival rate of neurons in DR ganglia and posterior horn, light and transmission electron microscope. Results HRP retrograde tracing demonstrated axonal axoplasmic transport of regenerative nerve recovered well in group B. Regenerative fibers were found. There was no difference between group A or B and normal control with regard to the number of myelinated axons and the thickness of myelin. Regenerating axon stop at the DREZ in group A and the density of positive CGRP were lower than those in group B and normal control. Survival rate of neurons in L6 DR ganglia had no difference among all groups. However, in posterior horn, a significant increase in death was seen in group A and sham group. Conclusion The ability of axonal regeneration was effective and with no disservice to neurons in posterior horn following anastomosis of postganglionic spinal nerve and dorsal root, by which axoplasmic transport across the DREZ into the spinal cord.