Neuroprotective effects of a ligand of translocator protein-18kDa (Ro5-4864) in experimental diabetic neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy represents an important complication of diabetes involving a spectrum of structural, functional and biochemical alterations in peripheral nerves. Recent observations obtained in our laboratory have shown that the levels of neuroactive steroids present in the sciatic nerve of rat raised diabetic by a single injection of streptozotocin (STZ) are reduced and that, in the same experimental model, treatment with neuroactive steroids, such as progesterone, testosterone and their derivatives show neuroprotective effects. On this basis, an interesting therapeutic strategy could be to increase the levels of neuroactive steroids directly in the nervous system. With this perspective, ligands of translocator protein-18 kDa (TSPO) may represent an interesting option. TSPO is mainly present in the mitochondrial outer membrane, where it promotes the translocation of cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane, and, as demonstrated in other cellular systems, it allows the transformation of cholesterol into pregnenolone and the increase of steroid levels. In the diabetic model of STZ rat, we have here assessed whether treatment with Ro5-4864 (i.e., a ligand of TSPO) could increase the low levels of neuroactive steroids in sciatic nerve and consequently to be protective in this experimental model. Data obtained by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry show that treatment with Ro5-4864 was able to significantly stimulate the low levels of pregnenolone, progesterone and dihydrotestosterone observed in the sciatic nerves of diabetic rats. The treatment with Ro5-4864 also counteracted the impairment of NCV and thermal threshold, restored skin innervation density and P0 mRNA levels, and improved Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity. In conclusion, data here reported show for the first time that a TSPO ligand, such as Ro5-4864, is effective in reducing the severity of diabetic neuropathy through a local increase of neuroactive steroid levels.     

Neuroactive steroids influence peripheral myelination: a promising opportunity for preventing or treating age-dependent dysfunctions of peripheral nerves

The process of aging deeply influences morphological and functional parameters of peripheral nerves. The observations summarized here indicate that the deterioration of myelin occurring in the peripheral nerves during aging may be explained by the fall of the levels of the major peripheral myelin proteins [e.g., glycoprotein Po (Po) and peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22)]. Neuroactive steroids, such as progesterone (PROG), dihydroprogesterone (5alpha-DH PROG), and tetrahydroprogesterone (3alpha,5alpha-TH PROG), are able to stimulate the low expression of these two myelin proteins present in the sciatic nerve of aged male rats. Since Po and PMP22 play an important physiological role in the maintenance of the multilamellar structure of PNS myelin, we have evaluated the effect of PROG and its neuroactive derivatives, 5alpha-DH PROG and 3alpha,5alpha-TH PROG, on the morphological alterations of myelinated fibers in the sciatic nerve of 22-24-month-old male rats. Data obtained clearly indicate that neuroactive steroids are able to reduce aging-associated morphological abnormalities of myelin and aging-associated myelin fiber loss in the sciatic nerve.     

Progesterone and its derivatives are neuroprotective agents in experimental diabetic neuropathy: a multimodal analysis

One important complication of diabetes is damage to the peripheral nervous system. However, in spite of the number of studies on human and experimental diabetic neuropathy, the current therapeutic arsenal is meagre. Consequently, the search for substances to protect the nervous system from the degenerative effects of diabetes has high priority in biomedical research. Neuroactive steroids might be interesting since they have been recently identified as promising neuroprotective agents in several models of neurodegeneration. We have assessed whether chronic treatment with progesterone (P), dihydroprogesterone (DHP) or tetrahydroprogesterone (THP) had neuroprotective effects against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic neuropathy at the neurophysiological, functional, biochemical and neuropathological levels. Using gas chromatography coupled to mass-spectrometry, we found that three months of diabetes markedly lowered P plasma levels in male rats, and chronic treatment with P restored them, with protective effects on peripheral nerves. In the model of STZ-induced of diabetic neuropathy, chronic treatment for 1 month with P, or with its derivatives, DHP and THP, counteracted the impairment of nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and thermal threshold, restored skin innervation density, and improved Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity and mRNA levels of myelin proteins, such as glycoprotein zero and peripheral myelin protein 22, suggesting that these neuroactive steroids, might be useful protective agents in diabetic neuropathy. Interestingly, different receptors seem to be involved in these effects. Thus, while the expression of myelin proteins and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity are only stimulated by P and DHP (i.e. two neuroactive steroids interacting with P receptor, PR), NCV, thermal nociceptive threshold and intra-epidermal nerve fiber (IENF) density are also affected by THP, which interacts with GABA-A receptor. Because, a therapeutic approach with specific synthetic receptor ligands could avoid the typical side effects of steroids, future experiments will be devoted to evaluating the role of PR and GABA-A receptor in these protective effects.     

Progesterone and its derivatives dihydroprogesterone and tetrahydroprogesterone reduce myelin fiber morphological abnormalities and myelin fiber loss in the sciatic nerve of aged rats

Previous studies indicate that steroid hormones may be protective for Schwann cells and promote the expression of myelin proteins in the sciatic nerve of adult rats. In this study, we have evaluated the effect of progesterone (P), dihydroprogesterone (DHP), tetrahydroprogesterone (THP), testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and 5alpha-androstan-3alpha, 17beta-diol (3alpha-diol) on the morphological alterations of myelinated fibers in the sciatic nerve of 22-24-month-old male rats. The sciatic nerves of untreated old male rats, showed a general disorganization and a significant reduction in the density of myelinated fibers, compared to nerves from 3-month-old male rats. The effect of aging was particularly evident in myelinated fibers of small caliber (<5 microm in diameter). In addition, the sciatic nerves of old rats showed a significant increase in the number of fibers with myelin infoldings in the axoplasm and in the number of fibers with irregular shapes. Treatments of old rats with P, DHP and THP resulted in a significant increase in the number of myelinated fibers of small caliber, a significant reduction in the frequency of myelin abnormalities and a significant increase in the g ratio of small myelinated fibers. Furthermore, P treatment significantly reduced the frequency of myelinated fibers with irregular shapes. In contrast, treatments with T, DHT or 3alpha-diol did not significantly affect any of the morphological parameters examined. In conclusion, our data indicate that P, and its derivatives DHP and THP, are able to reduce aging-associated morphological abnormalities of myelin and aging-associated myelin fiber loss in the sciatic nerve. These data suggest that P, DHP and THP may represent useful therapeutic alternatives to maintain peripheral nerve integrity in aged animals.     

Histological and immunohistochemical study of the potential therapeutic impacts of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes for sciatic nerve crush injury model in rats

ABSTRACT

The aim was to evaluate the potential effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) and BMSC-EX in the sciatic nerve injury. Forty-five rats were divided into four groups, i.e. Group I control no surgery or treatment, Group II sciatic nerve crush surgery and 1 week post-surgery, Group III sciatic nerve crush injury was treated with BMSC, and Group IV sciatic nerve crush injury was treated with BMSC-EX. All animal groups were euthanized 2 weeks after treatment. Sciatic nerves were examined histologically and immunohistochemically. Group II showed various histological changes, i.e. vacuolation, degeneration and loss of nerve fibers. Group II showed a significant increase in collagen fibers, but with significant reduction in osmium tetroxide (OsO₄)-stained myelin sheaths and neurofilament immunostaining compared to Group I. Group II also revealed distortion and disruption of myelinated nerve fibers. Groups III and IV showed significant improvement of both histological and immunohistochemical changes in Group II. BMSC and BMSC-EX were shown to improve axonal regeneration.     

Effect of peripheral nerve section and nerve crush on spinal cord neuropeptides in the rat; increased VIP and PHI in the dorsal horn

An increase in vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactivity in the dorsal lumbar hemisegment L4 of the spinal cord was observed by both radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemistry following sciatic nerve section or crush. Compared to the contralateral control hemisegment there was 125% and 35% more VIP immunoreactivity in the L4 hemisegment ipsilateral to the lesion 14 days following nerve section and crush respectively. The contralateral control hemisegment contained levels similar to L4 hemisegments from unoperated control rats. This increase appeared by immunocytochemistry to be confined to the substantia gelatinosa, in the region of termination of the majority of unmyelinated sciatic nerve afferents. Similar increases to VIP were observed for the peptide PHI, which is closely related to VIP. However, spinal cord substance P and somatostatin immunoreactivities were reduced following nerve section and unchanged following nerve crush whilst neurotensin and bombesin immunoreactivities were not affected following either lesion.Previous studies have shown that peripheral nerve injury produces a number of electrophysiological and biochemical changes in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, including depletion of substance P in primary afferent neurones.The location of the cell bodies of fibres showing increased immunoreactivity remains to be established. Further studies are required to elucidate how these peptide changes are related to the adaptive processes which occur centrally following peripheral nerve injury.     

The action of steroid hormones on peripheral myelin proteins: A possible new tool for the rebuilding of myelin?

The present paper summarizes recent results we have obtained while studying the effect of sex steroids on the gene expression of two peripheral myelin proteins, the glycoprotein Po (Po) and the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22). In particular, we have analyzed the effect of progesterone (P), testosterone (T) and their 5- and 3-5-reduced derivatives [respectively, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and 5-androstan-3, 17-diol (3-diol) for T, and dihydroprogesterone (DHP) and tetrahydroprogesterone (THP) for P]. The data obtained, utilizing different in vivo and in vitro experimental models, have indicated that: a) DHP is able to enhance the low messenger levels of Po present in the sciatic nerve of aged male rats; b) P, DHP and THP treatments stimulate the gene expression of Po in the sciatic nerve of adult male rats or in cultures of rat Schwann cells, while only THP is effective on PMP22; c) P and DHP are also able to increase the low messenger levels of Po present in transected sciatic nerve; d) the removal of circulating androgens by castration is able to decrease the mRNA levels of Po in the sciatic nerve, a phenomenon which is counteracted by the consequent treatment with DHT; e) the stimulatory effect of DHT on the gene expression of Po is also evident in cultures of rat Schwann cells, but in this case the effect seems to be due to the interaction of this steroid with the progesterone receptor; f) in cultures of Schwann cells PMP22 mRNA levels are stimulated only by 3-diol treatment. Taken together, these observations showing the positive effects of sex steroid hormones on the gene expressions of Po and PMP22, suggest that a treatment with these molecules or their synthetic agonists may be useful in cases in which the rebuilding of myelin is necessary.     

Beneficial effects of treadmill training in experimental diabetic nerve regeneration

OBJECTIVES:

We investigated the effects of treadmill training (10 weeks) on hindlimb motor function and nerve morphometric parameters in diabetic rats submitted to sciatic nerve crush.

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

Wistar rats (n = 64) were divided into the following groups: non-diabetic; trained non-diabetic; non-diabetic with sciatic nerve crush; trained non-diabetic with sciatic nerve crush; diabetic; trained diabetic; diabetic with sciatic nerve crush or trained diabetic with sciatic nerve crush. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (50 mg/kg, iv). Hindlimb motor function was evaluated weekly by assessing sciatic functional indices, and the proximal and distal portions of the sciatic nerve were used for morphometric analysis.

RESULTS:

At 13 weeks post-injury, the distal nerve portion of all injured groups and the proximal nerve portion of the diabetic with sciatic nerve crush group presented altered morphometric parameters such as decreased myelinated fiber diameter (∼7.4±0.3µm vs ∼4.8±0.2µm), axonal diameter (∼5±0.2µm vs ∼3.5±0.1µm) and myelin sheath thickness (∼1.2±0.07µm vs ∼0.65±0.07µm) and an increase in the percentage of area occupied by endoneurium (∼28±3% vs ∼60±3%). In addition, in the non-diabetic with sciatic nerve crush group the proximal nerve portion showed a decreased myelinated fiber diameter (7.4±0.3µm vs 5.8±0.3µm) and myelin sheath thickness (1.29±0.08µm vs 0.92±0.08µm). The non-diabetic with sciatic nerve crush, trained non-diabetic with sciatic nerve crush, diabetic with sciatic nerve crush and trained diabetic with sciatic nerve crush groups showed normal sciatic functional index from the 4^th, 4^th, 9^th and 7^th week post-injury, respectively. Morphometric alterations in the proximal nerve portion of the diabetic with sciatic nerve crush and non-diabetic with sciatic nerve crush groups were either prevented or reverted to values similar to the non-diabetic group by treadmill training.

CONCLUSION:

Diabetic condition promoted delay in sciatic nerve regeneration. Treadmill training is able to accelerate hindlimb motor function recovery in diabetic injured rats and prevent or revert morphometric alterations in proximal nerve portions in non-diabetic and diabetic injured rats.     

一氧化氮合酶在坐骨神经夹伤后腓肠肌中的表达变化

目的:探讨外周神经损伤后同侧腓肠肌中3种一氧化氮合酶(nitric oxide synthase,NOS)的表达变化及定位。方法:采用H-E染色及Masson三色染色法分析大鼠坐骨神经夹伤后同侧腓肠肌的病理变化,NADPH-黄递酶组织化学研究其总NOS的改变,并利用Western印迹法、免疫荧光双标法,对3种NOS表达变化及定位进行分析。结果:神经夹伤后相应腓肠肌发生了明显的病理变化且总NOS发生改变,3种NOS变化不尽相同,其表达高峰均约在4周左右。nNOS与神经丝标记物NF-200有共定位,iNOS、eNOS则分别在巨噬细胞、血管内皮细胞中有表达。结论:3种NOS在坐骨神经夹伤后相应腓肠肌中表达变化不同,可能对肌肉损伤及再生修复发挥不同作用。     

兔坐骨神经急性损伤的高频超声影像学观察

目的用高频超声观察兔坐骨神经急性损伤的超声图像表现,评价其临床诊断价值。方法16只健康家兔随机分为4组,建立兔坐骨神经急性损伤模型,分别在损伤后第1、2、4、8周,应用高频超声在同部位上观察双侧坐骨神经的声像图变化。结果坐骨神经损伤后,在不同阶段,高频超声均可观察到相应变化图像改变与神经损伤后退变、再生及肢体功能在动态变化上相一致。结论高频超声可实时准确反映神经退变和再生的过程,为诊断外周神经损伤提供新方法,对临床判断和预后提供客观依据。     

Intrahypothalamic effects of progestin agonists on estrous behavior and progestin receptor binding

To investigate whether metabolism of progesterone (P) to other progestins is necessary for the facilitation of estrous behavior in estrogen-primed rats, we evaluated the behavioral effectiveness of intrahypothalamic implants of two P metabolites, 5 alpha-dihydroprogesterone (DHP) and 20 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (20HP), and of desoxycorticosterone (DOC). We also determined whether the progestin receptor binding capacity of the steroids correlated with their behavioral efficacy. Implants of DHP and 20HP into the ventromedial hypothalamus were considerably less effective than P in activating estrous behavior; in contrast, the mineralocorticoid DOC was nearly as effective as P. Binding studies showed that P had the highest affinity for brain progestin receptors followed by DHP, DOC and 20HP. Thus there was a poor correlation between the behavioral efficacy and the progestin receptor binding properties of the steroids tested. These data suggest (1) that neither 5 alpha-reduction nor 20 alpha-hydroxylation are necessary for P activation of estrous responsiveness and (2) that the structural features required for the behavior promoting effects of P may not be identical to those required for binding to brain progestin receptors.     

Bilateral phasic increases in dorsal root ganglia nerve growth factor synthesis after unilateral sciatic nerve crush

The amount of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the L5, L6, and cervical dorsal root ganglia of rats was examined from 1 to 30 days after a unilateral crush lesion of the sciatic nerve and adjacent branches of the lumbar plexus at the level of the sciatic notch. Unilateral nerve crush produced increases in NGF content of lumbar ganglia at 1, 4, and 7–8 days after injury, with increased NGF mRNA at 4 and 7–8 days. Increases in NGF at 1 and 4 days were most pronounced on the unlesioned side while increases at days 7 and 8 were most pronounced on the lesioned side. NGF content increased in cervical ganglia of nerve-lesioned animals at 3 and 7 days after injury and in lumbar and cervical ganglia of sham-operated animals 3–5 days after surgery, with no comparable changes in NGF mRNA. Elevations of ganglionic NGF coincide temporally with some of the alterations in metabolism and morphology which occur in dorsal root ganglion neurons after sciatic nerve crush. However, the bilateral nature of increases in NGF demonstrates that the factor(s) producing the response is not restricted to ganglia axotomized by the injury. The data suggest that ganglionic NGF may be regulated by systemic factors, produced during stress or trauma, as well as by factors from the denervated target tissue and/or regenerating axons.     

Changing pattern of c-FOS expression in spinal cord neurons after electrical stimulation of the chronically injured sciatic nerve in the rat.

Immunocytochemical technique was used to study the distribution of c-FOS protein immunoreactive cells in the spinal cord and gracile nuclei 2 h after electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve in ketamine/xylazine/acepromazine-anesthetized adult rats. Quantitative examination of the c-fos-labeled cells in the spinal cord laminae was made in unoperated and sham operated controls, after sciatic nerve transection without electrical stimulation, and after electrical stimulation at C-fiber or A alpha/beta-fiber intensity, both in normal animals and at various survival times after chronic sciatic nerve injury (transection and ligation) or crush. Unoperated animals showed very few c-fos-labeled cells, and sham operated controls showed labeled cells located mainly outside the sciatic nerve projection territory. A small increase in number of c-fos protein positive cells was seen after sciatic nerve transection without electrical stimulation. Stimulation of the normal sciatic nerve at C-fiber intensity resulted in c-fos protein-positive cells within the sciatic projection territory in the ipsilateral dorsal horn. Labeled cells were seen in all spinal cord laminae except lamina IX, with the vast majority in lamina I and outer lamina II. No labeled cells were seen in the gracile nucleus. Stimulation at A alpha/beta fiber intensity resulted in no or only a very small number of c-fos-positive neurons. Electrical stimulation of the injured sciatic nerve at C-fiber intensity, using the uninjured contralateral side as control, resulted in significant decreases in c-fos-immunoreactive cells in lamina I plus the outer portion of lamina II at 12 and 39 days survival after injury. A non-significant decrease was seen in these laminae also after 21 days. Significant increases were seen in laminae III and IV at 21 days. Decreases in laminae V, VI and more ventral laminae were significant at 21 and 39 days after injury. At longer survival times, the difference between the normal and injured side seen weeks after injury tended to disappear. Stimulation at A alpha/beta fiber intensity 21 days after injury resulted in increases in the numbers of labeled cells in ipsilateral laminae II, III and IV and in the gracile nucleus. Sciatic nerve stimulation after crush injury resulted in more variable side differences, with tendencies for the same alterations as those noted after chronic transection-ligation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Netrin-1 overexpression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells promotes functional recovery in a rat model of peripheral nerve injury

Transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) has been developed as a new method of treating diseases of the peripheral nervous system. While netrin-1 is a critical molecule for axonal path finding and nerve growth, it may also affect vascular network formation. Here, we investigated the effect of transplanting BMSCs that produce netrin-1 in a rat model of sciatic nerve crush injury. We introduced a sciatic nerve crush injury, and then injected 1×10⁶ BMSCs infected by a recombinant adenovirus expressing netrin-1 Ad5-Netrin-1-EGFP or culture medium into the injured part in the next day. At day 7, 14 and 28 after injection, we measured motor nerve conduction and detected mRNA expressions of netrin-1 receptors UNC5B and Deleted in Colorectal Cancer (DCC), and neurotrophic factors brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) by real-time PCR. We also detected protein expressions of BDNF and NGF by Western blotting assays and examined BMSCs that incorporated into myelin and vascellum. The results showed that BMSCs infected by Ad5-Netrin-1-EGFP significantly improved the function of the sciatic nerve, and led to increased expression of BDNF and NGF (P<0.05). Moreover, 28 days after injury, more Schwann cells were found in BMSCs infected by Ad5-Netrin-1-EGFP compared to control BMSCs. In conclusion, transplantation of BMSCs that produce netrin-1 improved the function of the sciatic nerve after injury. This method may be a new treatment of nerve injury.     

大鼠坐骨神经损伤后Src抑制的蛋白激酶C的底物在背根神经节中的表达变化

目的:探讨大鼠坐骨神经损伤后,Src抑制的蛋白激酶C的底物(SSeCKS)在背根神经节(DRG)中的表达变化及其意义。方法:制备成年SD(Sprague-Dawley)大鼠坐骨神经夹伤及切断模型。通过Western印迹法、Real-time PCR及免疫组织化学方法检测坐骨神经损伤后SSeCKS在DRG中表达的时空变化。结果:大鼠坐骨神经夹伤后6h,DRG中可检测到SSeCKS的表达并逐步升高,伤后12h达到高峰,2d后逐渐下降;而大鼠坐骨神经切断后DRG中SSeCKS的表达高峰发生在伤后2周,1d时最低;SSeCKS主要分布于DRG大、中、小神经元胞质;SSeCKS与NeuN、NF200以及GAP43存在共定位。结论:大鼠坐骨神经损伤后,引起DRG中SSeCKS的表达变化,其可能参与疼痛信号转导通路并与周围神经损伤后的再生有关。     

小鼠坐骨神经损伤后内源性BDNF对脊髓前角运动神经元内突触素Ⅰ mRNA表达的调节

本研究旨在探讨小鼠坐骨神经损伤后内源性BDNF是否参与调节脊髓前角运动神经元内突触素ImRNA的表达。在小鼠坐骨神经压榨损伤后,腹腔注射BDNF抗体中和内源性BDNF,动物存活1～2周,用组织原位杂交技术观察突触素ImRNA在脊髓腰骶膨大部前角运动神经元内的表达。结果显示:注射BDNF抗体后坐骨神经损伤侧脊髓前角突触素ImRNA阳性运动神经元的数目和平均光密度与实验对照组相比显著下降(P<0.01)。本研究结果提示,小鼠坐骨神经损伤后内源性BDNF可参与脊髓前角运动神经元内突触素ImRNA表达的调节。     

p27kip1和Skp2在损伤后大鼠坐骨神经中的表达变化

为了探讨损伤后周围神经p27kip1和S期激酶相关蛋白2(Skp2)的定位表达和变化,本实验将成年SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组、夹伤组和切断组,运用Western blot结合免疫组织化学及免疫荧光双标,在大鼠坐骨神经损伤时,对p27kip1和Skp2表达的影响进行了研究。结果表明:(1)坐骨神经夹伤后,p27kip1蛋白表达先逐渐下降,后又逐渐上升;坐骨神经切断后,远侧段p27kip1蛋白表达持续下降,而近侧段p27kip1蛋白表达在切断后6h明显下降,后又逐渐升高至正常水平,而Skp2表达变化与之相反;(2)免疫组织化学染色结果显示,坐骨神经切断后1w,远侧段从断端到末端,p27kip1阳性信号逐渐增加,而Skp2阳性信号逐渐减弱;(3)免疫荧光双标显示,正常和损伤坐骨神经的雪旺氏细胞中都有p27kip1和Skp2表达。以上结果提示:周围神经损伤后影响雪旺氏细胞中p27kip1和Skp2的表达变化,为进一步研究它们在周围神经损伤和修复中的作用机制奠定基础。     

Macrophage response to peripheral nerve injury: the quantitative contribution of resident and hematogenous macrophages

Whereas local microglial cells of the CNS rapidly respond to injury, little is known about the functional role of resident macrophages of the peripheral nervous system in nerve pathology. Using bone marrow chimeric rats, we recently identified individual resident endoneurial macrophages that rapidly became activated after nerve injury. However, the extent of local macrophage activation and its quantitative contribution to the total macrophage response is unknown. We now have created chimeric mice by transplanting bone marrow from green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transgenic mice into irradiated wild-type mice, allowing easy differentiation and quantification of hematogenous and resident endoneurial macrophages. After sciatic nerve crush injury, both GFP(-) and GFP(+) resident macrophages, the latter having undergone physiological turnover from the blood before injury, rapidly underwent morphological alterations and increased in number. Proliferating GFP(-) and GFP(+) resident macrophages were abundant and peaked 3 days after injury. A major lesion-induced influx of hematogenous macrophages with a disproportionate increase of GFP(+) macrophages was not observed until Day 4. Throughout all time points examined, GFP(-) resident macrophages were strikingly frequent, reaching maximum numbers 9.5-fold above baseline. There was also a notable proportion of GFP(-) resident endoneurial macrophages phagocytosing myelin and expressing major histocompatibility complex class II. Our results demonstrate for the first time that the rapid response of resident endoneurial macrophages to nerve injury is quantitatively important and that local macrophages contribute significantly to the total endoneurial macrophage pool during Wallerian degeneration.     

The promotion of peripheral nerve regeneration by chitooligosaccharides in the rat nerve crush injury model

Chitooligosaccharides (COSs), the biodegradation product of chitosan, have shown many biological functions. In this study, we examined the possible benefits of treatment with COSs (M.W. 800) on regeneration of rat crushed sciatic nerves. The rats with sciatic nerve crush injury were administered intraperitoneally daily with 3 or 6 mg/kg body weight of COSs over a 3-week period. During and at the end of COSs treatment, a series of functional and histological examinations, including the measurement of withdrawal reflex latency (WRL) values, walking track analysis, electrophysiological assessments, morphometric analysis of gastrocnemius muscle, as well as immunohistochemistry and electromicroscopy to regenerated sciatic nerves, were performed to evaluate the therapeutic outcomes of COSs. The experimental data demonstrated that COSs promoted peripheral nerve regeneration with the desired functional recovery in the rat sciatic nerve crush injury model. This study raises a possibility of developing COSs as a potential neuroprotective agent for peripheral nerve repair applications.