title: Histologic analysis of Schwann cell migration and peripheral nerve regeneration in the autogenous venous nerve conduit (AVNC).
abstract: Over the last two decades, the autogenous venous nerve conduit (AVNC) has been established as an effective treatment modality for the repair of nerve gaps less than 3 cm. In this study, the spatial-temporal progression of Schwann-cell migration and peripheral-nerve regeneration across a 10-mm gap bridged by a venous conduit was examined, using immunoctyochemical techniques. Histologic analysis revealed that the process of nerve regeneration through an AVNC occurs in four phases: the hematoma phase, cellular migration phase, axonal advancement phase, and myelination and maturation phase. The authors found that: 1) the lumen of the vein conduit remains patent throughout the process of nerve regeneration; 2) Schwann cells migrate into the vital space of the vessel lumen from the proximal and distal nerve stumps; 3) axonal growth into the conduit lags behind Schwann-cell migration; 4) Schwann cells migrate to the regenerating axons to form mature nodes of Ranvier when the distal stump is present; and 5) mechanical injury alone is sufficient to induce axonal outgrowth from the proximal nerve stump.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation*