title: Improved technique for stereotactic placement of nerve grafts between two locations inside the rat brain.
abstract: Peripheral nerve grafts have shown the ability to facilitate central axonal growth and regenerate the adult central nervous system. However, the detailed description of a technique for atraumatic graft placement within the brain is lacking. We present a stereotactic procedure to implant a peripheral nerve graft within a rat's brain with minimal brain tissue damage. The procedure permits a correct graft placement joining two chosen points, and the survival and integration of the graft in the host tissue with a light glial reaction, with evidence of central axonal growth inside the graft, at least up to 8 weeks after its implantation.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46013 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ulises
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gómez-Pinedo
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Félez
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Sancho-Bielsa
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vidueira
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cabanes
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: García-Verdugo
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barcia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000637:transplantation*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques