title: Poly(D,L-Lactide-Co-Glycolide) Tubes With Multifilament Chitosan Yarn or Chitosan Sponge Core in Nerve Regeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The influence of different kinds of nerve guidance conduits on regeneration of totally transected rat sciatic nerves through a 7-mm gap was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five different types of conduits made of chitosan and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) were constructed and tested in vivo. We divided 50 animals into equal groups of 10, with a different type of conduit implanted in each group: chitosan sponge core with an average molecular mass of polymer (Mv) of 287 kDa with 7 channels in a PLGA sleeve, chitosan sponge core with an Mv of 423 kDa with 7 channels in a PLGA sleeve, chitosan sponge core (Mv, 423 kDa) with 13 channels in a PLGA sleeve, chitosan multifilament yarn in a PLGA sleeve, and a PLGA sleeve only. Seven weeks after the operation, we examined the distance covered by regenerating nerve fibers, growing of nerves into the conduit's core, and intensity and type of inflammatory reaction in the conduit, as well as autotomy behavior (reflecting neuropathic pain intensity) in the animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two types of conduits were allowing nerve outgrowth through the gap with minor autotomy and minor inflammatory reactions. These were the conduits with chitosan multifilament yarn in a PLGA sleeve and the conduits with 13-channel microcrystalline chitosan sponge in a PLGA sleeve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The type of chitosan used to build the nerve guidance conduit influences the intensity and character of inflammatory reaction present during nerve regeneration, which in turn affects the distance crossed by regenerating nerve fibers, growing of the nerve fibers into the conduit's core, and the intensity of autotomy in the animals.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wlaszczuk
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. Electronic address: wmarcol@tlen.pl.
authors.forename: Wiesław
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Marcol
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Biomaterials, Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kucharska
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Fibres from Natural Polymers, Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wawro
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palen
authors.affiliation: Full Professor, Department Head, Department of Physiology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewin-Kowalik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048271:Chitosan; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D048271:Chitosan