Delayed implantation of intramedullary chitosan channels containing nerve grafts promotes extensive axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury.

摘要: OBJECTIVE: We describe a new strategy to promote axonal regeneration after subacute or chronic spinal cord injury consisting of intramedullary implantation chitosan guidance channels containing peripheral nerve (PN) grafts. METHODS: Chitosan filled with PN grafts harvested from green fluorescent protein rats were implanted in the cavity 1 week (subacute) 4 weeks (chronic) 50-g clip atT8 and compared similarly injured animals either unfilled no channels. Functional recovery was measured weekly for 12 by open-field locomotion, which histological examination performed. RESULTS: The contained thick tissue bridge as many 35,000 myelinated axons both groups, greatest number subacutely. There numerous protein-positive donor Schwann cells bridges all Moreover, these had high functional capacity terms myelination In addition, PN-filled showed excellent biocompatibility adjacent neural obvious signs degradation minimal reaction at 14 implantation. control that implanted, there channels; without channels, large cavities cords, only small cells. Despite numbers channel-PN graft group, significant difference between treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Intramedullary resulted thicker larger alone. A channel is promising repair.