Repair of facial nerve defects by using acellular nerve allografts implanted with Schwann cells in rats / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effects of in vitro isolated Schwann cells co-cultured with chemically acellular nerve allografts on improving repair of large facial nerve defects. Methods A total of 30 Wistar rats were equally randomized into three groups, ie, experimental group, allograft group and autograft group. Nerve defect of 12 mm in length was made in the left inferior buccal branch of facial nerve and repaired with acellular nerve allograft implanted with Schwann cells, acellular nerve allograft and fresh tibial nerve autograft respectively. At the 5th month postoperatively, the function and morpholo-gy of the regenerated nerves were observed by electrophysiological method, methylene blue staining and transmission electron microscope. Results In experimental group, the recovery rate (operation side/normal side) of amplitude of nerve-muscle action potential was (35.8±2.5)%, the lantency recovery rate (normal side/operation side) (65.8±2.9)%, the number of the regenerated axon 1 570±188 and the myelin thickness (0.383±0.031) μm. The results in the experimental group were significantly supe-rior to those in the acellular nerve allograft group (P < 0.05), with similar results to fresh nerve autograft group (P > 0.05). Conclusion Transplantation of Schwarm cells in acellular nerve allograft can im-prove repair of large facial nerve defects.