The Role of Cultured Schwann Cell Grafts in the Repair of Gaps within the Peripheral Nervous System of Primates

摘要: With recent advances in cell culture techniques it is possible to isolate human SCs from adult peripheral nerves, expand and purify their number culture, construct a cellular prosthesis the cultured cells. The current study was designed ascertain whether these could be used repair nonhuman primate nerve injuries. In 12 female cynomologous monkeys, musculocutaneous (msk) divided prevented regenerating brachioradialis (brach) exposed bilaterally (n = 24 nerves) injured so that 15-mm gap existed within nerve. brach nerves were either repaired with sural autografts 6), guidance channels which contained monkey (120 x 10(6) cells/ml; n or without 6). remaining 6) had no injury an repair. Autologous expanded increased at least 10-fold over 2-week period time SC purity exceeded 99.9%. Monkeys each group, including control regained some degree of elbow flexion after 3 months despite sectioning both mask nerve; therefore, we unable determine simply on clinical grounds most effective promoting functional recovery. Brach grafts superior empty regards myelinated axons proximal, within, distal site (P < 0.05). Electrophysiologic results closely paralleled histologic data evidence reinnervation muscle based compound action potential graft channel groups.