Schwann cells, acutely dissociated from a predegenerated nerve trunk, can be applied into a matrix used to bridge nerve defects in rats.
BACKGROUND
The gold standard to reconstruct a nerve defect is a conventional autologous nerve graft. There may be a lack of such grafts in severe nerve injuries. Alternatives to autologous nerve grafts are needed.


METHODS
We have developed a technique where mainly Schwann cells are acutely dissociated from the ends of the severed nerve trunk after nerve injury. The technique does not require long-term cell culture procedures. The obtained cells, which can be dissociated within a few hours, are applied to a silicone tube or a tendon autograft used to bridge a nerve defect.


RESULTS
Dissociated cells from the ends of the severed nerve ends consist of more than 85% of Schwann cells. The remaining cells are ED1 stained macrophages. The cells survive transfer to a silicone tube or a tendon autograft which bridge the nerve defect. Axons do grow through such a graft filled with dissociated cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Our novel model to obtain mainly Schwann cells by dissociation of the cells from the severed nerve ends after injury and add them to a matrix, thereby creating an artificial nerve graft, may be a new technique with potential clinical application in nerve reconstruction.
Dahlin
L
L
Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö and Cell and Organism Biology, Lund, Sweden. lars.dahlin@med.lu.se
Brandt
J
J
Nilsson
A
A
Lundborg
G
G
Kanje
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000737:chemistry / Q000637:transplantation; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D051381:Rats; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012828:Silicones; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery
D012828:Silicones