Piezoelectric guidance channels enhance regeneration in the mouse sciatic nerve after axotomy.
Piezoelectric nerve guidance channels made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) were evaluated in a transected mouse sciatic nerve model. Poled PVDF channels were compared to unpoled PVDF channels after 4 and 12 weeks of implantation. In all animals, the proximal and distal nerve stumps were bridged by a continuous nerve cable. Nerves regenerated in poled channels contained a higher number of myelinated axons than those regenerated in unpoled channels at both time periods. We conclude that piezoelectric nerve guidance channels enhance peripheral nerve regeneration and provide a tool to investigate the influence of electrical activity on nerve regeneration.
Aebischer
P
P
Artifical Organ Laboratory, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912.
Valentini
R F
RF
Dario
P
P
Domenici
C
C
Galletti
P M
PM
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D051379:Mice; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D011145:Polyvinyls; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
D011145:Polyvinyls; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers