title: Schwann cell-seeded scaffold with longitudinally oriented micro-channels for reconstruction of sciatic nerve in rats.
abstract: To provide a more permissive environment for axonal regeneration, Schwann cells (SCs) were introduced into a collagen-chitosan scaffold with longitudinally oriented micro-channels (L-CCH). The SC-seeded scaffold was then used for reconstruction of a 15-mm-long sciatic nerve defect in rats. The axonal regeneration and functional recovery were examined by a combination of walking track analysis, electrophysiological assessment, Fluoro-Gold retrograde tracing, as well as morphometric analyses to both regenerated axons and target muscles. The findings showed that SCs adhered and migrated into the L-CCH scaffold and displayed a longitudinal arrangement in vitro. Axonal regeneration as well as functional recovery was in the similar range between SCs-seeded scaffold and autograft groups, which were superior to those in L-CCH scaffold alone group. These indicate that the SCs-seeded L-CCH scaffold, which resembles the microstructure as well as the permissive environment of native peripheral nerves, holds great promise in nerve regeneration therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Guang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qing-Song
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Feng-Yu
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Xue-Yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yu-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Jing-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zhuo-Jing
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016764:Cell Polarity; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D016062:Porosity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013499:Surface Properties; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000379:methods