Olfactory ensheathing cells enhance Schwann cell-mediated anatomical and functional repair after sciatic nerve injury in adult rats.
Sciatic nerve injury results in axon damage, muscle degeneration, and loss of function. We compared the potential of Schwann cell (SC), olfactory ensheathing cell (OEC), or mixed SC/OEC transplants for anatomical and functional restoration after adult rat sciatic nerve transection. The cells were seeded into a 20mm long macroporous poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) acid conduit and grafted between the sciatic nerve stumps. Some rats received a conduit without cells (controls) or an autologous nerve graft, the clinical standard of care. Compared with SC transplants, axon regeneration was 25% less with OEC transplants but 28% more with SC/OEC transplants. Gastrocnemius muscle restoration was similar with a SC or OEC transplant and 35% better with a SC/OEC transplant. With SC transplants, motor and sensory function recovery and electrophysiological outcomes were similar as with OEC transplants and 33% better with SC/OEC transplants. Compared with the mixed SC/OEC transplants, axon regeneration was 21% better and gastrocnemius muscle restoration was 18% better with autologous peripheral nerve transplants, but these improvements did not translate into increased function and electrophysiological outcomes. Our results revealed that OEC synergistically improve SC mediated sciatic nerve repair. The data emphasized the promise of SC/OEC transplants as artificial nerves for peripheral nerve repair. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Understanding olfactory ensheathing glia and their prospect for nervous system repair.
You
Hua
H
Research Institute of Surgery, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Wei
Li
L
Liu
Yuan
Y
Oudega
Martin
M
Jiao
Shu-Sheng
SS
Feng
Shuai-Nan
SN
Chen
Yin
Y
Chen
Jian-Mei
JM
Li
Bing-Cang
BC
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*