title: Evaluation of the effectiveness of biodegradable electrospun caprolactoneand poly(lactic acid-ε-caprolactone) nerve conduits for peripheral nerveregenerations in a rat sciatic nerve defect model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare electrospun caprolactone (EC) and poly(lactic acid-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) nerve conduits with nerve graft in a rat sciatic nerve defect model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 32 male Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups, with 8 rats in each group. A nerve defect of 1 cm was constructed in the left sciatic nerve of the rats. These defects were left denuded in the sham group, and reconstructed with nerve grafts, PLCL, and EC nerve conduits in the other groups. After 3 months, nerve regenerations were evaluated macroscopically, microscopically, and electrophysiologically. The numbers of myelinated axons in the cross-sections of the nerves were compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Macroscopically, all nerve coaptations were intact and biodegradation was detected in nerve conduits. Electromyographic assessment and count of myelinated axons in the cross-sections of the nerves displayed the best regeneration in the nerve graft group (P < 0.001) and similar results were obtained in the PLCL and EC nerve conduit groups (P = 0.79). Light and electron microscopy studies demonstrated nerve regeneration in both nerve conduit groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EC nerve conduits and PLCL nerve conduits yielded similar results and may be alternatives to nerve grafts as they biodegrade.
authors: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Dadaci
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
authors: Nimet
authors: N
authors: Karagülle
authors: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Erhan
authors: E
authors: Sönmez
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Mevlana University, Konya, Turkey.
authors: Zeynep
authors: Z
authors: Dadaci
authors: Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Clinic of Plastic, Acıbadem Family Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Evren Tevfik
authors: ET
authors: İşci
authors: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors: Bilsev
authors: B
authors: İnce
authors: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: İbrahim
authors: İ
authors: Vargel
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Erhan
authors: E
authors: Pişkin
authors: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ali Yücel
authors: AY
authors: Erk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D011091:Polyesters; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C550605:poly(lactic acid-co-epsilon-caprolactone)
keywords: Nerve regeneration; electrospun caprolactone nerve conduits; nerve graft; poly(DL-lactide-ε-caprolactone) nerve conduits