Peripheral nerve regeneration in the apolipoprotein-E-deficient mouse.
Apolipoprotein E (apo E) is thought to mediate the reutilization of myelin cholesterol for nerve regeneration. Prior research suggests that apo E is not essential for nerve regeneration following a nerve crush injury. This study was conducted to determine if apo E is essential for nerve regeneration after nerve transection and interposition nerve autograft. Nerve regeneration of transgenic apo E-deficient mice was compared with control mice after a sciatic nerve neurolysis and repair and interposition autograft. Histomorphometric assessment and histology were performed on distal nerve segments to evaluate nerve regeneration. Apo E-deficient mice demonstrated no difference in total fiber number or nerve fiber width when compared with controls; however, the nerve fiber density and percent neural tissue of apo E-deficient mice were significantly less than controls following nerve repair. Apo E deficiency does not affect nerve regeneration. It is likely that the low nerve fiber density and the low percent neural tissue associated with apo E-deficiency result from impairment in the disposal of myelin debris.
Genden
Eric M
EM
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA.
Watanabe
Osamu
O
Mackinnon
Susan E
SE
Hunter
Daniel A
DA
Strasberg
Suzanne R
SR
D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D001057:Apolipoproteins E