title: The effectiveness of tetanus toxin on sciatic nerve regeneration: a preliminary experimental study in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to investigate the effects of local tetanus toxin (TeTx) application on sciatic nerve regeneration following a rat model of transection injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  After both sciatic nerves were transected and repaired with three epineural sutures, 12 male Wistar albino rats were divided into two groups. 0.25 ml (2.5 flocculation units) TeTx was injected into a piece of absorbable gelatin sponge in TeTx group. In controls, 0.25 ml saline injected. Assessments were performed by using climbing degrees, compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) and histological parameters (axon number and axonal diameter) 12th week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CMAPs amplitudes were 11.6 ± 4.7 mV and 1.4 ± 1.3 mV in gastrocnemius and interdigital muscles in TeTx group (5.8 ± 2.4 mV and 0.2 ± 0.1 mV, P < 0.05). Climbing degrees were significantly different (61.6 ± 1.7 vs. 38.3 ± 2.6, P < 0.05). Total axon numbers were higher (1341.1 ± 57.3 vs. 877.5 ± 34.9, P < 0.05) and the mean axon diameter was smaller (4.2 ± 2.1 vs. 2.5 ± 1.9, P < 0.05) in the TeTx group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study firstly demonstrated the effectiveness of TeTx on nerve repair in experimental sciatic rat model based on functional, electromyographic and histological parameters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical Faculty of Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gunay
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kucuk
authors.forename: Oytun
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erbas
authors.forename: Funda Calis
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Atamaz
authors.forename: Ulku
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kucuk
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coskunol
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004576:Electromyography; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013744:Tetanus Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D013744:Tetanus Toxin