Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Acellular allogeneic nerve graft has a three-dimensional structure which is emulational completely, and provides an ideal three-dimensional space for cell adhesion. These are unmatchable for all synthetics at present.
OBJECTIVE: To contrast and analyze the pro and con of the liquid nitrogen cryopreservation, chemical method and improved chemical method for preparation of acellular sciatic nerve.
METHODS: 10-mm sciatic nerve segments of SD rats were selected, and treated with liquid nitrogen cryopreservation, TritonX-100 chemical, and improved chemical methods. The acellular nerve grafts were prepared for hematoxylin-eosin staining. The ultrastructure of the grafts was observed under the scanning electron microscopy.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Acellular nerve grafts prepared by liquid nitrogen cryopreservation were found more residual schwann cells, more axons and myelin. Grafts prepared by chemical method with TritonX-100 had no various schwann cells, as well as no significant residual axons and myelin were seen; the inophragma was intact and inophragma tube was clear. In the acellular nerve grafts prepared by improved chemical method, Schwann cells, axons and myelin almost disappeared; the acellular effect was better, and the inophragma was intact, besides, nophragma tube was clearer. These findings suggest that the acellular effects of chemical method and improved chemical method are better, and the improved chemical method is the best.