title: Effect of new neuronal growth factor on healing of sciatic nerve in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to investigate the effect of a new peptide new nerve growth factor (NNGF) on the healing of divided sciatic nerves in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats of 250-300g were divided into two groups (group 1 - study group and group 2 - control group). Under ketamine intramuscular anesthesia sciatic nerves were exposed, divided and repaired using 10/0 dexon. Study animals had 10mg/kg body weight of NNGF added to the repair. Electromyographic studies of the hind libs were carried out after 8weeks. The average stimulation was 50mA for 200μS and four twitches (T) were recorded. The animals were euthanized and the sciatic nerves were removed for histological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no deaths in either of the groups. Electromyographic study showed that in the control group the average T1-T4 was 0.587±0.17% and in the study group the average was 87.89±5.02% (p value of 0.001). Histologically the control group showed regenerated axons sprouting from the proximal segment of cut nerve with empty endoneurial channels, while in the study group whole nerve trunks were seen within endoneurial channels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that the NNGF has a positive influence on the experimental healing of sciatic nerves in animals.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Dammam, King Fahd Hospital of the University, AlKhobar, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Dakheel A
authors: DA
authors: Al-Dakheel
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Dammam, King Fahd Hospital of the University, AlKhobar, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: drsadat@hotmail.com.
authors: Mir
authors: M
authors: Sadat-Ali
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Dammam, King Fahd Hospital of the University, AlKhobar, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Md Quamar
authors: MQ
authors: Azam
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Dammam, King Fahd Hospital of the University, AlKhobar, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mohammed
authors: M
authors: El-Shawarby
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D009842:Oligopeptides; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: C000610569:NNGF peptide, human; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009842:Oligopeptides
keywords: NNGF; Nerve regeneration; Sciatic nerves