Pathogenesis of the gradually elongated nerve.
The rabbits' sciatic nerves were lengthened by 30 mm in increments of 2.0 mm/day (2-mm group) and 4.0 mm/day (4-mm group). In the 2-mm group, the phosphorylated neurofilament (p-NF) immunoreactivity of axons was similar to that of the control group. However, in the 4-mm group, number of p-NF positive axons decreased. The number of p-NF positive cells at the seventh lumbar dorsal root ganglion cells of the 4-mm group was significantly larger than that of the control group. Abnormal p-NF immunoreactivity in the 4-mm group suggested an impairment of the axonal flow. Leakage of Evans blue-albumin into the endoneurial space, which meant destruction of the blood-nerve barrier function, was clearly evident in the 4-mm group, but minor in the 2-mm group. A speed of 2.0 mm/day, therefore, appears to be critical for safe nerve elongation in this model.
Ikeda
K
K
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Japan. seikei@kenroku.ipc.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Okada
K
K
Tomita
K
K
Tanaka
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport / Q000502:physiology; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D001852:Bone Lengthening / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005269:Femur / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011817:Rabbits; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors