The use of cultured Schwann cells in nerve repair in a rabbit hind-limb model

• Published in: Journal of reconstructive microsurgery Vol. 12; no. 3; p. 149
• Main Authors: Brown, R E, Erdmann, D, Lyons, S F, Suchy, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-04-1996
• Subjects: Animals; Cells, Cultured; Hindlimb; Isometric Contraction - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - innervation; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Nerve Regeneration - physiology; Neural Conduction - physiology; Peroneal Nerve - physiology; Peroneal Nerve - surgery; Polyglycolic Acid; Rabbits; Schwann Cells - transplantation
• ISSN: 0743-684X
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1006468

A 3-cm peripheral nerve gap in a rabbit hind-limb model was repaired by using a polyglycolic acid (PGA) conduit filled with a gelatin/Schwann-cell suspension. Postoperative nerve function after 16 weeks, as measured by isometric twitch and tetanic muscle strengths, and nerve conduction velocities, failed to demonstrate a statistically significant difference, compared to a control group in which the nerve gap was reconstructed by using a PGA conduit filled with gelatin only. The 3-cm gap in the described model may not have been long enough to show a significant difference between the two groups. Alternatively, the transferred cultured Schwann cells may have been functionally inactive.