The relationship of the extrinsic blood supply to regeneration in graft reconstructed peripheral nerves.
Median nerves of rats were reconstructed with conventional or vascular nerve grafts. After 2, 3 and 4 weeks, Allen Video-Enhanced Contrast, Differential Interference Contrast (AVEC-DIC) microscopy revealed axonal transport in most preparations, with varying degrees of myelination. Radio-isotope tracer was measured in the nerve. Two and 4 week measurements revealed no difference between the graft types. At 3 weeks the vascular graft group exhibited transport along the entire length of the nerve in contrast to a relatively abbreviated path length in the conventional graft group. Nerve conduction velocities (NCV) were measured proximal to, within and distal to the grafts. Three week NCV showed no difference between the graft types. The 4 week NCV revealed normal values in the vascular graft group at points distal to and within the graft. Significant slowing was seen in the conventional grafts at both points.
Cook
A F
AF
Microsurgery Laboratory, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio.
Moon
H K
HK
Lynn
M P
MP
Margolin
D
D
Browne
E Z
EZ
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009431:Neural Conduction; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors