title: Autologous tendons used as grafts for bridging peripheral nerve defects.
abstract: This study was performed to investigate whether autologous collagen and other extracellular matrix components could be used in nerve repair by bridging a 10 mm defect in the rat sciatic nerve. Three models of repair were examined. In the first model, a rat tail tendon was teased and subsequently rolled to form a loose collagen roll which was sutured over the defect. In the second model, an intact tendon was used. In the third model, a teased tendon was pretreated with attachment of nerve segments to each end for 4 weeks before grafting. Both teased and intact tendons supported regeneration, to some extent. Pretreatment resulted in migration of Schwann cells into the graft, and enhanced regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Research, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Sweden. jerker.brandt@hand.mas.lu.se
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Dahlin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lundborg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000473:pathology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D003094:Collagen