Article
Animal experimental assessment of nerve regeneration with a processed human umbilical vessel used as a regeneration chamber
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Published: | February 6, 2020 |
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Objectives/Interrogation: Nerve regeneration chambers are used to decrease sites transplant donor morbidity. We propose a safe biomaterial, derived from an inverted umbilical artery from human umbilical cord, included in Wharton jelly which is rich in collagen and hyaluronic acid.
Methods: The biomaterial, with an inner diameter of 1.75 mm, is dehydrated and also secured by a viral inactivating treatment, enabling a hold of its tubular structure. A sciatic nerve section has been performed on 15 rats, with a sleeving and nerve endings suture by nylon points 9/0, in order to create a 1 cm gap. A daily monitoring allowed to assess the motor index of tonus recovery and sensitive recovery, compared to the healthy side. Rats are split in 3 groups and sacrificed at 1, 3 or 8 weeks for macroscopic and histological analysis.
Histological staining specific to the myelin (MCOLL) and immunostaining of Schwann cells (S-100) and axonal cells (NF), have enabled to assess axonal regrowth, Büngner bands, the biomaterial integrity and the inflammatory reaction.
Kinetic regrowth compared to contro-lateral nerve has been assessed by histomorphometry
Results and Conclusions: First sensitive recovery signs appear from D5. The tonus recovery in the emptiness appears from D24, movement against gravity since D28 and continue to evolve until D54. The biomaterial is resorbing progressively since D21 while preserving a regrowth chamber, and disappears completely on D56. The inflammatory reaction is weak since D7.
Staining and immunohistochemistry show a 90% axonal cells recovery since D56, a high density of Schwann cells with an increasing since D21 and an of organisation axonal fibers in the time and biomaterial space, moving from the proximal to distal stump, with an efficient myalination in 8 weeks. Nerve recovery fills quickly the 1 cm gap of the sciatic nerve: 50% at D21 and 100% filling at D56.
The biomaterial shows an efficient axonal regrowth in 8 weeks, after a section of a 1 cm gap. The biological allogenic devitalized structure shows a good tolerance with a complete integration and several physiological proteins that can have enhanced the good kinetic of the nerve regrowthThis new conduit has shown its biocompatibility in rats, with an axonal regrowth. It seems a promising product to consider for human transplants and nerve sutures.