title: Targeted mesenchymal stem cell and vascular endothelial growth factor strategies for repair of nerve defects with nerve tissue implanted autogenous vein graft conduits.
abstract: Peripheral nerve gaps exceeding 1 cm require a bridging repair strategy. Clinical feasibility of autogenous nerve grafting is limited by donor site comorbidity. In this study we investigated neuroregenerative efficacy of autogenous vein grafts implanted with tissue fragments from distal nerve in combination with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in repair of rat peripheral nerve defects. Six-groups of Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 8 each) were evaluated in the autogenous setting using a 1.6 cm long peroneal nerve defect: Empty vein graft (group 1), Nerve graft (group 2), Vein graft and nerve fragments (group 3), Vein graft and nerve fragments and blank microspheres (group 4), Vein graft and nerve fragments and VEGF microspheres (group 5), Vein graft and nerve fragments and MSCs (group 6). Nerve fragments were derived from distal segment. Walking track analysis, electrophysiology and nerve histomorphometry were performed for assessment. Peroneal function indices (PFI), electrophysiology (amplitude) and axon count results for group 2 were -9.12 ± 3.07, 12.81 ± 2.46 mV, and 1697.88 ± 166.18, whereas the results for group 5 were -9.35 ± 2.55, 12.68 ± 1.78, and 1566 ± 131.44, respectively. The assessment results did not reveal statistical difference between groups 2 and 5 (P > 0.05). The best outcomes were seen in group 2 and 5 followed by group 6. Compared to other groups, poorest outcomes were seen in group 1 (P ≤ 0.05). PFI, electrophysiology (amplitude) and axon count results for group 1 were -208.82 ± 110.69, 0.86 ± 0.52, and 444.50 ± 274.03, respectively. Vein conduits implanted with distal nerve-derived nerve fragments improved axonal regeneration. VEGF was superior to MSCs in facilitating nerve regeneration. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 36:578-585, 2016.
authors: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Fıkret
authors: F
authors: Eren
authors: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. sinanoksuz@gmail.com.|Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. sinanoksuz@gmail.com.
authors: Sınan
authors: S
authors: Öksüz
authors: Department of Pathology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Zafer
authors: Z
authors: Küçükodaci
authors: Department of Neurology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Mustafa Tansel
authors: MT
authors: Kendırlı
authors: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Ceyhun
authors: C
authors: Cesur
authors: Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Marmara University, ıstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Emıne
authors: E
authors: Alarçın
authors: Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Ezgı
authors: E
authors: Irem Bektaş
authors: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Hüseyın
authors: H
authors: Karagöz
authors: Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Marmara University, ıstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Oya
authors: O
authors: Kerımoğlu
authors: Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey.|CoE in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, BIOMATEN, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Gamze Torun
authors: GT
authors: Köse
authors: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Ersın
authors: E
authors: Ülkür
authors: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors: Vijay
authors: V
authors: Gorantla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058017:Vascular Grafting / Q000379:methods*; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A