Abstract:

BACKGROUND: It is relatively ideal to repair nerve defects using autologous nerve graft. But it has its drawbacks. A better treatment for repairing nerve defects should be found.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of autogenous vein graft (AVG) under induction of exogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) on the peripheral nerve repair and regeneration after injury.
METHODS: Wistar rats were used to prepare injured models of peripheral nerve and were divided randomly into three groups. The nerve defect was bridged with autogenous vein, and the neural regeneration room was formed and injected with NGF in the experimental group. The rats in the control group were injected with normal saline instead of NGF. In the standard group, autogenous nerve grafting was performed. The animal ethology observation, electrophysiological and morphological detection were performed at 1 and 3 months after operation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All experimental animals had different regeneration and repair of nerve tissues. By contrast, there was a better manifestation in repairing the peripheral nerve defects in the experimental group, and neuroelecrophysiology detection showed that nerve concluctive velocity (NCV) was significantly faster than those in the other groups. Morphological observation showed that the quantity and quality of regenerative nerve fiber were superior to the control group obviously (P < 0.05), and they had not significant differences compared with the standard group (P > 0.05). The co-therapy of NGF and autogenous vein graft can promote repair and regeneration of peripheral nerve after injury. The treatment not only can increase quantity of regenerative nerve fiber, but also can significantly promote their quality.