title: Cervical root repair in adult rats after transection: recovery of forelimb motor function.
abstract: Functional recovery was achieved in rats after repairing the transected left sixth and seventh cervical roots. Intercostal nerves were used for reanastomosis between the transected roots and the spinal cord, and acidic fibroblast growth factor with fibrin glue was applied. Experimental rats showed relevant functional recovery of gait and grooming reflexes. Electromyography demonstrated less denervation and more regeneration. Horseradish peroxidase retrograde axonal tracing disclosed a statistically significant increase of motor neuron survival, suggesting that motor neuron survival was significantly correlated with functional recovery. It is our belief that this novel treatment strategy may help patients with similar injuries in the future.
authors.affiliation: Neural Regeneration Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201 Shih-pai Road, Section 2, Taipei, Taiwan 11217.
authors.forename: Ming-Chao
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kuo-Chi
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tien-Yow
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Wen-Chi
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Liang-Shong
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wen-Chung
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Henrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006120:Grooming / Q000187:drug effects; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D007367:Intercostal Nerves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000637:transplantation; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009333:Neck; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase