title: Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein enhances the vascularization of acellular nerves.
abstract: Vascularization of acellular nerves has been shown to contribute to nerve bridging. In this study, we used a 10-mm sciatic nerve defect model in rats to determine whether cartilage oligomeric matrix protein enhances the vascularization of injured acellular nerves. The rat nerve defects were treated with acellular nerve grafting (control group) alone or acellular nerve grafting combined with intraperitoneal injection of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (experimental group). As shown through two-dimensional imaging, the vessels began to invade into the acellular nerve graft from both anastomotic ends at day 7 post-operation, and gradually covered the entire graft at day 21. The vascular density, vascular area, and the velocity of revascularization in the experimental group were all higher than those in the control group. These results indicate that cartilage oligomeric matrix protein enhances the vascularization of acellular nerves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Ling
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Microsurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Long-Hai
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Yan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Microsurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Microsurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3075-9291
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Microsurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: acellular nerves; angiogenesis; nerve regeneration; nerve repair; nerve tissue engineering; neural regeneration; peripheral nerve injuries; radiography; two-dimensional evaluation; vascularized models