title: Influence of Tacrolimus (FK506) on Nerve Regeneration Using Allografts: A Rat Sciatic Nerve Model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  FK506 is an immunosuppressant agent used to prevent rejection after organ transplantation. The aim of the present study was to assess effects of tacrolimus (FK506) on peripheral nerve regeneration using allografts in a rat sciatic nerve model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male white Wistar rats were divided randomly into a normal control (NC) group (n = 10), an allograft (ALLO) group (n = 10), and an FK506-treated (ALLO/FK506) group (n = 10). In the NC group, the left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and, after homeostasis, the muscle was sutured. In the ALLO group, the left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and transected proximal to the tibioperoneal bifurcation, where a 10-mm segment was excised. The same procedure was performed in the ALLO/FK506 group. The harvested nerves of the ALLO group served as allografts for the ALLO/FK506 group and vice versa. The NC and ALLO groups received sterile olive oil 300 μL intraperitoneally once a day for 1 week and the ALLO/FK506 group received FK506 300 μL (1 mg/kg) intraperitoneally once a day for 1 week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Behavioral, functional, and biomechanical recovery and gastrocnemius muscle mass showed earlier regeneration of axons in the ALLO/FK506 than in the ALLO group (P < .05). Histomorphometric and immunohistochemical studies also showed earlier regeneration of axons in the ALLO/FK506 than in the ALLO group (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of FK506 could accelerate functional recovery of the sciatic nerve after nerve allografting. It could have clinical implications for the surgical management of patients after facial nerve transection.
authors: Researcher, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Shahraki
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. Electronic address: r.mohammadivet@gmail.com.
authors: Rahim
authors: R
authors: Mohammadi
authors: Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Najafpour
mesh_terms: D064591:Allografts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002081:Buttocks / Q000294:innervation; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000294:innervation; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D009929:Organ Size; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000637:transplantation*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009418:S100 Proteins; D016559:Tacrolimus