[Olfactory ensheathing cells enhance functional recovery of injured sciatic nerve].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) on functional recovery after sciatic nerve injury.


METHODS
Upon silicone-tubulization of transected sciatic nerve in 30 adult rats. Thirty rats were divided into two groups(SAL group and OECs group); saline and OECs were injected into the silicone chamber in SAL group and in OECs group respectively. The status of functional recovery of injured sciatic nerve was observed by electrophysiological analysis, axon morphometry analysis.


RESULTS
In OECs group on the 30th and the 90th days after sciatic nerve transection: 1. The latent period of CMAP shortened by 0.60 ms and 0.56 ms; the nerve conduction velocity promoted by 6.42 m/s and 5.36 m/s; the amplitude enhanced by 3.92 mv and 5.84 mv, respectively; 2. The HRP positive cells in lateral nucleus of spinal anterior horn increased by 11.63% and 25.01%; 3. The number of nerve fibers increased by 1,047/mm2 and 1,422/mm2 and the thickness of myelim sheath increased by 0.43 micron and 0.63 micron, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The olfactory ensheathing cells are capable of promoting the functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury.
Cheng
Sai-yu
SY
Department of Neurobiology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing, P. R. China 400038.
Ruan
Huai-zhen
HZ
Wu
Xi-gui
XG
D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000601:surgery; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*