Effects of nerve growth factor delivery via a gel to inferior alveolar nerve in mandibular distraction osteogenesis.
Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury is a concern in mandible distraction osteogenesis (DO). We have previously demonstrated that repeated local injections of human nerve growth factor beta (NGF-beta) have significantly enhanced the histologic recovery of the IAN in a rabbit model of DO. This study was to further test the effect of a single injection of human NGF-beta delivered via a collagen/nanohydroxyapatite/kappa-carrageenan gel to the recovery of the IAN in DO. Rabbits underwent mandibular DO at a rate of 0.75 mm/12 h for 6 days. At the end of the distraction period, injections were performed near the IAN percutaneously as follows: group 1, human NGF-beta in the gel; group 2, human NGF-beta in saline; group 3, the gel alone; and group 4, saline alone. At 14 days after the end of distraction, IAN histologic findings and histomorphometric parameters were evaluated. Histologically, there were less myelin debris and more abundant regenerating nerve fibers in group 1 than the other groups. Both the myelinated fiber density and the myelinated axon area in group 1 were significantly higher than groups 3 and 4 (P < 0.01); the myelinated axon area in the group 1 was significantly higher than group 2 (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the delivery of human NGF-beta in the gel leads to a better acceleration of the IAN injury recovery over the saline delivery. It provides a possible way to enhance the recovery of nerve injuries in craniofacial DO clinically.
Wang
Lei
L
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Cao
Jian
J
Lei
De-lin
DL
Cheng
Xiao-bing
XB
Yang
Yao-wu
YW
Hou
Rui
R
Zhao
Ying-hua
YH
Cui
Fu-zhai
FZ
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects; D002351:Carrageenan; D003094:Collagen; D020209:Cranial Nerve Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017886:Durapatite; D005782:Gels / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000187:drug effects; D023421:Models, Animal; D053758:Nanoparticles; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000187:drug effects; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries
D005782:Gels; D002351:Carrageenan; D003094:Collagen; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D017886:Durapatite