Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Although the peripheral nerve function of rats with nerve defects can be partially recovered following repair with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) conduits, the regenerated nerve is smaller in diameter and contains less nerve fibers compared with autogenous nervegrafting, as well as the maturity of the myelin and functional recovery cannot be compared with autogenous nerve grafting either.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the feasibility of tacrolimus sustained-release poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) conduits for repair of tibial nerve defects in rats.
METHODS: The SD rat models of right tibial nerve defects were established and divided into three groups randomly. The tibial nerve defect was repaired with autogenous tibial nerve, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) conduits and tacrolimus sustained-release poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) conduits respectively in each group. The tibial nerve regeneration and functional recovery were observed by sciatic functional index assessment, electrophysiologic study, histological examination and the measurement of gastrocnemius wet weight at weeks 3, 6, and 12 postoperatively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The sciatic functional index assessment, electrophysiologic study, histological examination, as well as the measurement of gastrocnemius wet weight indicated that the nerve regeneration and functional recovery of autograft group and tacrolimus sustained-release poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) conduits group had better results than that of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) conduits group at weeks 6 and 12 postoperatively (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between autograft group and tacrolimus sustained-release poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) conduits group. It suggests that tacrolimus sustained-release poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) conduits for the repair of tibial nerve defects can promote nerve regeneration obviously and have a better effect on the functional recovery at advanced stage, which is similar to nerve autografts.