Histological effects of fibrin glue on nervous tissue: a safety study in rats.
BACKGROUND
Little is known of the histologic effects of fibrin glue on normal nervous tissue. To verify the safety of intracranial application of fibrin glue, we investigated the histologic effects of fibrin glue on brain tissue and intracranial nerves of rats.


METHODS
In Group I (n = 12), bifrontal craniotomy with opening of the dura and arachnoid was performed, and on one side one droplet of fibrin glue was applied into the subarachnoid space. In Group II (n = 12), a unilateral temporal craniotomy was performed, the cavernous sinus was opened, and one drop of fibrin glue was applied to the trigeminal nerve. The controls for Group II (n = 8) were operated in the same way but without application of the fibrin glue. Rats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 7, and 28 days after surgery. The brains and nerves were processed for histologic examination and were semi-quantitatively scored for neuronal damage, gliosis, edema, fibroplasia, inflammatory reaction, axonal damage, and myelin damage.


RESULTS
No differences were found in the occurrence of neuronal damage, gliosis, edema, fibroplasia, axonal damage, or myelin damage between rats with and without fibrin glue application. In Group I the inflammatory reaction seen at Day 7 was more severe on the fibrin glue side when compared to the control side. At Day 28, however, this difference had resolved.


CONCLUSIONS
In this morphological safety study, intracranial application of fibrin glue in a rat model does not induce extra brain damage, intracranial nerve damage, or scar tissue formation.
de Vries
Joost
J
Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Menovsky
Tomas
T
van Gulik
Sander
S
Wesseling
Pieter
P
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D003399:Craniotomy; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives