title: Cross-chest median nerve transfer: a new model for the evaluation of nerve regeneration across a 40 mm gap in the rat.
abstract: A new animal model for the study of nerve regeneration in rats across a 40 mm gap between both median nerves is described. For autologous grafting, the ulnar nerves were dissected and sutured together. From the left median nerve, they were transplanted across the chest to the right median nerve. Animals having undergone this operation were observed for 12 months and periodically assessed using the grasping test and measurements of body-weight. For histological analysis rats were sacrificed after this period and axon counts were determined at the suture points of operated animals and in the median nerve of non-operated animals. Functional recovery could be seen, although partially, beginning as early as the fifth postoperative month, as demonstrated by the grasping test. Quantification of the number of axons demonstrated axonal regeneration across all three coaptation points. This model provides a new approach for analysis of long distance peripheral nerve regeneration without impairment of behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hand-, Plastische-, Rekonstruktive- und Verbrennungschirurgie, Universität Tübingen, BG-Unfallklinik, Tübingen, Germany. nsinis@bgu-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Nektarios
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sinis
authors.forename: Hans-Eberhard
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Schaller
authors.forename: Stephan Thomas
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lanaras
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schulte-Eversum
authors.forename: Hans-Werner
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vonthein
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rösner
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haerle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight; D002452:Cell Count; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation / Q000648:ultrastructure