Allotransplanted DRG neurons or Schwann cells affect functional recovery in a rodent model of sciatic nerve injury. (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dayawansa, Samantha; Wang, Ernest W.; Liu, Weimin; Markman, John D.; Gelbard, Harris A.; Huang, Jason H.
• Is Part Of: Neurological research. Volume 36:Number 11(2014)
• Page Start: 1020
• Page End: 1027
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; 616.8005
• DOI: 10.1179/1743132814Y.0000000386
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0161-6412

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Objective:</title> <p>In this study, the functional recoveries of Sprague-Dawley rats following repair of a complete sciatic nerve transection using allotransplanted dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons or Schwann cells were examined using a number of outcome measures.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Methods:</title> <p>Four groups were compared: (1) repair with a nerve guide conduit seeded with allotransplanted Schwann cells harvested from Wistar rats, (2) repair with a nerve guide conduit seeded with DRG neurons, (3) repair with solely a nerve guide conduit, and (4) sham-surgery animals where the sciatic nerve was left intact. The results corroborated our previous reported histology findings and measures of immunogenicity.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Results:</title> <p>The Wistar-DRG-treated group achieved the best recovery, significantly outperforming both the Wistar-Schwann group and the nerve guide conduit group in the Von Frey assay of touch response (<italic>P</italic> < 0·05). Additionally, Wistar-DRG and Wistar-Schwann seeded repairs showed lower frequency and severity in an autotomy measure of the self-mutilation of the injured leg because of neuralgia.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusion:</title> <p>These results suggest that in complete peripheral nerve transections, surgical repair using nerve guide conduits with allotransplanted DRG and Schwann cells may improve recovery, especially DRG neurons, which elicit less of an immune response.</p> </sec> </abstract>