title: Sustained bFGF-release tubes for peripheral nerve regeneration: comparison with autograft.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite numerous articles on the use of artificial nerve conduits, autologous nerve transplants remain the most effective for nerve repair. To improve this technique, the authors examined conduits containing gelatin hydrogel as a carrier enabling the sustained release of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).
  
  
  METHODS
  To confirm sustained bFGF release in vivo, nerve-guide tubes containing iodine-125-labeled bFGF with or without gelatin hydrogel were implanted under the skin of mice, and the remaining radioactivity was measured. Next, a 15-mm segment of the sciatic nerve was resected and repaired with autologous nerve (group 1), a tube with gelatin hydrogel and bFGF (group 2), a tube with bFGF alone (group 3), or a tube only (group 4). Histologic and functional analyses were performed for 16 weeks after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The radioactivity from iodine-125-labeled bFGF incorporated into gelatin hydrogel decreased more slowly than iodine-125-labeled bFGF alone. Four weeks after surgery, significantly more regenerating axons were detected in group 2 than in groups 3 and 4, but the axonal density in group 2 was lower than in group 1. Similarly, the animals in group 2 showed significantly better motor performance than those in groups 3 and 4, but worse than those in group 1. The animals in groups 1 and 2 showed significantly better sensory recovery than those in groups 3 and 4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nerve-guide tube containing gelatin hydrogel and bFGF promoted axonal regeneration after peripheral nerve injury, but not as well as autologous transplants. Understanding the limitations of this technique will facilitate its improvement for clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan From the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine; the Advanced Biomedical Engineering Research Unit and the Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University; and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Murayama Medical Center, National Hospital Organization.
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Harukazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Hirotaka J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toyama
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tabata
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005780:Gelatin; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D005780:Gelatin