title: Regenerated Nerve Defects with a Nerve Conduit Containing Dental Pulp Stem Cells in Pigs: An Immunohistochemical and Electrophysiological Evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) present an exciting new tool in the field of peripheral nerve regeneration due to their close embryonic origin. In this study, we examined their potential in pigs, using biodegradable collagen conduits filled with DPSCs. To our knowledge, this is the first time DPCSs are tested for peripheral nerve regeneration in such large animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The second lateral incisor was extracted from every animal's lower jaw and stem cells were isolated and cultured. The collagen nerve conduits containing the DPSCs were subsequently transplanted into the transected fifth and sixth intercostal nerves, while the seventh intercostal nerve was used as a control and no stem cells were added on the respective collagen conduit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A histological examination was performed on the 3rd and 6th postoperative months and showed the gradual development of neural tissue and immunohistochemical expression of neuron-specific enolase. An electrophysiological study was performed on the 6th postoperative month and showed similar potentials between the stem cell infusion region (5 ± 0.04 units) and their proximal stumps (5 ± 0.05 units) and slightly smaller potentials in the respective distal stumps (4 ± 0.045 units).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nerves where DPSCs were injected exhibited morphological and functional recovery, in contrast to the control nerves where no recovery was detected; thus, there is a first evidence of the therapeutic potential of DPSCs in peripheral nerve regeneration.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Surgery and Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Themistoklis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spyridopoulos
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambropoulou
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pagonopoulou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neural Surgery, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodosios
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Birbilis
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Surgery and Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandra K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tsaroucha
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Kokona
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kouzi-Koliakou
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Surgery and Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Botaitis
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodora-Eleftheria
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Deftereou
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Surgery and Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaitanidis
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Surgery and Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pitiakoudis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007180:Incisor; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen