title: Reconstruction of rat peripheral nerve gap without sutures using freeze-dried alginate gel.
abstract: Many materials have been used for artificial tubular prostheses to assist peripheral nerve gap reconstruction. However, the clinical use of these devices has been restricted because a microsurgical procedure requires specialized techniques and expensive equipment, such as operating microscope systems. Therefore the authors developed a new gluing method, without sutures, that uses freeze-dried alginate gel. A 7-mm gap in the sciatic nerve of rats was bridged with freeze-dried alginate gel. Regeneration was evaluated by electrophysiologic testing and histologic study. Eighteen weeks after surgery, functional reinnervation of motor and sensory nerves had occurred, as demonstrated by recovery of compound muscle action potentials (CMAP), compound nerve action potentials (CNAP), and somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEP). Histologically, many regenerated nerve fasciculi, including myelinated and unmyelinated fibers, were observed and the implanted alginate gel had disappeared. In conclusion, a gluing technique using alginate gel is a potential alternative to the conventional nerve autograft technique. Advantages include simple application and rapid repair. Freeze-dried alginate gel is a promising material for artificial nerve guides for peripheral nerves and also could be used for repair of disrupted pathways in central nervous tissue that is amorphous and cannot be sutured.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanihara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohnishi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimura
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000464:Alginates; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D005612:Freeze Drying; D005782:Gels; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005782:Gels