大鼠坐骨神经移植的形态及电生理研究

目的：探讨异体坐骨神经移植后神经纤维再生。方法：大鼠３８只,在手术显微镜下将右侧坐骨神经切除１ｃｍ,然后将１ｃｍ异体或自体右侧坐骨神经移植于神经缺损处。 ２、４、８、１２周进行形态学观察及神经电生理学检查。结果：术后４周笛生神经纤维通过近铁合口进入移植神经,术后８周通过远侧吻合口进入受体坐骨神经。术后１２划体组与自体组再生神经纤维髓鞘的厚度、轴索的开矿及神经电生理功能无明显差异。结论：免疫排序反应     

重组腺病毒载体AxCA-BDNF基因转染修复坐骨神经损伤

背景：如何促进周围神经损伤修复与再生一直是基础与临床研究的热点。基因治疗有可能成为今后解决该问题的主要手段之一。 目的：观察携带小鼠脑源性神经营养因子(brain-derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF) cDNA表达片段的重组腺病毒载体AxCA-BDNF转染大鼠损伤坐骨神经后BDNF的表达,以及脊髓前角运动神经元的存活和神经生长情况。 方法：切除成年Wistar大鼠股中部10 mm长的坐骨神经,AxCA-BDNF转染组、BDNF组和对照组分别用硅胶管内置AxCA-BDNF原液,BDNF溶液或空白病毒稀释液桥接坐骨神经两断端。术后3,7,14 d,1,2,4个月应用原位杂交和免疫组织化学方法检测损伤坐骨神经及相应脊髓节段BDNF mRNA和蛋白的表达,并观察损伤坐骨神经的组织学及超微结构改变,再生的神经元及有髓神经纤维数目和髓鞘厚度。 结果与结论：术后3,7,14 d及1个月时,AxCA-BDNF转染组损伤坐骨神经近、远端神经干及脊髓(L_3~6)中BDNF mRNA和蛋白水平明显高于BDNF组和对照组(P < 0.01)。光、电镜病理组织学检查和图像分析证实,BDNF基因转染后,脊髓前角运动神经元存活数量、新生神经纤维数目及其髓鞘厚度、神经联接的再形成均明显优于对照组(P < 0.01)。说明经腺病毒介导转染的BDNF基因可在大鼠坐骨神经内有效表达,并通过轴突逆行转运到了相应的脊髓神经元,不仅能促进损伤神经纤维再生,也能保护损伤的脊髓神经元。     

Clinical long-term in vivo evaluation of poly(L-lactic acid) porous conduits for peripheral nerve regeneration

It was the purpose of this study to evaluate the clinical long-term effects of PLLA degradation in vivo on nerve regeneration in the rat sciatic nerve model. Thirty-one Sprague Dawley rats were utilized. Two groups of animals were selected. The control group of 10 animals received a 12 mm reversed isograft into the right sciatic nerve from 5 donor animals. The experimental group (n = 21) received a 12 mm empty PLLA conduits placed into a 12 mm defect in the right sciatic nerve. The left leg served as an internal control. Walking track analysis was performed monthly through 8 months. At the end of 4 and 8 months, animals in the control isograft and experimental group had the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles harvested and weighed for comparison. The midconduit/isograft and the distal nerve in these same animals were harvested and histomorphologically analyzed. Multiple samples were collected and expressed as means +/- standard error. A two-sample t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the variables. Significance level was set at alpha = 0.05. After Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, a p value of < or = 0.01 was considered statistically significant. Throughout all time periods, the PLLA conduit remained structurally intact and demonstrated tissue incorporation and vascularization. There was no evidence of conduit collapse or breakage with limb ambulation. Moreover, there was no evidence of conduit elongation at 8 months as previously observed with the 75:25 poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) conduits. The mean absolute value of the sciatic functional index (SFI) demonstrated no group differences from isograft controls measured over the 8 months except at 3 months where the isograft values were higher (p = 0.0379) and at 7 months were the isograft group was significantly lower (p = 0.0115). At 4 and 8 months, the weight of the gastrocnemius muscles of the experimental group was not significantly different from isografts. At 4 months the number of axons/mm2 and nerve fiber density was not significantly different between the isograft control and experimental groups in either the midconduit/isograft or distal nerve. At 8 months the number of axons/mm2 was significantly lower in the isograft compared to the midconduit experimental group (p = 0.006). The number of axons/mm2 in the distal nerve and the nerve fiber density in the midconduit and distal nerve were not significantly different between the two groups. The study confirmed our initial hypothesis that PLLA conduits are a viable scaffold for clinical long-term nerve gap replacement. We are critically aware however that longer evaluation of polymer degradation is warrented. Further studies on these individual nerve components are continuing, with the ultimate goal being the fabrication of a bioactive conduit that meets or exceeds the functional results of isografts.     

Nimodipine effects on cerebral microvessels and sciatic nerve in aging rats.

At the ultrastructural level different anomalies of the cerebral microvasculature were encountered in the brains of aged rats. These aberrations can either be attributed to degeneration processes or to the perivascular deposition of, e.g., collagen fibrils and other, unidentified, proteinous debris. We previously reported that chronic treatment with the calcium antagonist nimodipine from 24-30 months especially reduced the incidence of aging-related microvascular deposits in the frontoparietal motor cortex of rats. The same drug treatment did not interfere with the degeneration of pericytes. The reduction of the microvascular depositions was, however, not consistent throughout different cortical layers. We now demonstrate that an earlier onset (16-30 months) of the drug application yields a prominent and consistent reduction of microvascular deposits for all cortical layers studied. The earlier onset of the drug treatment again did not influence the quantity of pericyte degeneration. The effect of long-term nimodipine treatment (16-30 months) was also examined in the sciatic nerve. Compared to young animals the sciatic nerve of aged control rats (30 months) showed a variety of alterations of myelinated fiber (MF) morphometry. Nimodipine treatment from 16-30 months did not significantly change these morphometric aging-related changes. Approximately 6% of the MF in aged rats display morphological myelin irregularities. After nimodipine application the frequency of these alterations was reduced, which was, however, only significant for partial demyelination known as myelin ballooning. These results indicate a consistent influence of nimodipine on cerebral microvessels, while there is only a moderate effect on the morphology of sciatic myelinated fibers during the aging process.     

Morphologic and functional evaluation of peripheral nerve fibers regenerated through polyimide sieve electrodes over long-term implantation

We evaluated by morphologic and functional analysis the regeneration of peripheral nerve fibers through polyimide regenerative-type electrodes over long-term implantation. Polyimide sieve electrodes were placed in silicone chambers and implanted between the severed ends of the sciatic nerve in rats. The sieve part had 281 round via holes of 40 microm in diameter, with nine integrated recording-stimulating electrodes arranged around the via holes. The degree of axonal regeneration was examined at 2, 7, and 12 months postimplantation (mpi). Regeneration was successful in 12 of the 13 animals implanted. Reinnervation of distal muscle and nerves increased with time, reaching a plateau about 7 mpi. The number of myelinated fibers increased from 2 to 7 months, at which time it was similar to control values. With time the myelinated fibers matured, with significant increases in axon diameter and myelin thickness. Only 0.6% of the regenerated axons showed evidence of compression near the implanted electrode. The majority of the myelinated fibers that crossed the via holes and had been regenerated through the distal nerve had a normal appearance. Sieve electrodes were useful for nerve stimulation at postimplantation. Stimulation through different active electrodes excited nerve bundles, evoking compound muscle action potentials of varying shape and amplitude, indicative of selective axonal stimulation.     

小鼠神经缺损管式修复后长时程功能恢复与再生评价

目的了解壳聚糖/聚乳酸-乙醇酸共聚体(PLGA)人工神经移植物修复小鼠神经缺损后神经功能长时程恢复水平与再生神经成熟度。方法采用人工神经移植物桥接修复小鼠坐骨神经缺损(n=6),以自体神经修复(n=6)和缺损组(n=6)为对照,术后1年采用热痛阈测定、电生理学、激光多普勒血流检测评定神经功能,采用靶肌湿重比、组织学和电子显微镜等技术综合评定神经重支配和再生神经成熟度。结果人工神经移植物组足底痛觉反应潜伏期、神经源性血管扩张程度、腓肠肌复合肌动作电位(CMAPs)波幅和潜伏期、靶肌湿重比、再生轴突数量等指标与自体神经修复组相近,但与健侧相比CMAPs潜伏期较长,髓鞘较薄,轴突直径分布滞后。结论人工神经移植物修复小鼠神经缺损术后1年感觉及自主神经功能、再生神经数量和靶肌重支配水平与自体神经修复相当,但再生神经纤维成熟度未达正常。     

The foreign body response to the Utah Slant Electrode Array in the cat sciatic nerve

As the field of neuroprosthetic research continues to grow, studies describing the foreign body reaction surrounding chronic indwelling electrodes or microelectrode arrays will be critical for assessing biocompatibility. Of particular importance is the reaction surrounding penetrating microelectrodes that are used to stimulate and record from peripheral nerves used for prosthetic control, where such studies on axially penetrating electrodes are limited. Using the Utah Slant Electrode Array and a variety of histological methods, we investigated the foreign body response to the implanted array and its surrounding silicone cuff over long indwelling periods in the cat sciatic nerve. We observed that implanted nerves were associated with increased numbers of activated macrophages at the implant site, as well as distal to the implant, at all time points examined, with the longest observation being 350 days after implantation. We found that implanted cat sciatic nerves undergo a compensatory regenerative response after the initial injury that is accompanied by shifts in nerve fiber composition toward nerve fibers of smaller diameter and evidence of axons growing around microelectrode shafts. Nerve fibers located in fascicles that were not penetrated by the array or were located more than a few hundred microns from the implant appeared normal when examined over the course of a year-long indwelling period.     

Neural morphological effects of long-term implantation of the self-sizing spiral cuff nerve electrode

The paper reports on the histological effects of chronic implantation of self-sizing spiral cuff nerve electrodes on the cat sciatic nerve. The implantation period is about 4.4 months. Four different experimental conditions are evaluated: control, sham, bare cuff (cuffs without contacts and leads) and full cuff. The total number of axons in the nerves of the control group is compared with the three other groups. The surface occupied by collagen fibres in the nerve section, perineurium thickness, fibre diameter and myelin thickness are also measured. The average number of axons in the control nerves is found to be 16416 (±1509) and does not differ significantly from the three other groups (p>0.1). Collagen measurements show an extrafascicular epineurial fibrosis in the two implanted groups that is found to be significantly different (p<0.05). No differences are encountered in the perineurium thickness analysis. Fibre diameter distributions show a regular bimodal pattern for all groups. Centrality (mean and P_m) and dispersion statistics (P₂₅ and P₇₅) extracted from fibre diameter distributions do not reveal significant differences. Myelin thickness distributions are also similar for all groups, as well as centrality and dispersion statistics. The present morphometrical results suggest that the effects produced by a chronic spiral cuff implant on this animal model are negligible.     

Recording Properties and Biocompatibility of Chronically Implanted Polymer-based Intrafascicular Electrodes

We implanted polymer-based longitudinal intrafascicular electrodes (polyLIFEs) in feline dorsal rootlets acutely and for periods of two to six months to evaluate their electrical properties and biocompatibility. A total of 38 implanted electrodes were analyzed. Some 25 of the 38 electrodes were implanted with an insulative flexible polymer cuff, which was required for recording of afferent activity in situ. Electrode impedances remained stable for the duration of the experiments. The distributions of axons were measured at three levels of the implanted rootlets: the implant level, 1–2 mm proximal to the implant with respect to the cell body, and 1–2 mm distal to the implant with respect to the cell body. Similar measurements were made in five samples of fascicles neighboring an implant and six samples of control tissue from animals in which no implants were placed. The polyLIFEs demonstrated a high degree of biocompatibility, as no adverse effects on axon size were observed in either the implanted fascicle or neighboring neural tissue. However, the insulative cuffs were found to be a source of compression, resulting in necrosis of the neural tissue. © 1998 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC98: 8790+y, 8722-q     

种植施万细胞的脱细胞同种异体神经移植物对大鼠坐骨神经缺损的修复作用

目的观察种植施万细胞的脱细胞同种异体神经移植物,桥接大鼠坐骨神经缺损后的神经再生。方法应用酶反复消化法与差速贴壁法体外分离培养乳鼠施万细胞;显微注射法将施万细胞种植到脱细胞同种异体神经移植物内;再应用种植施万细胞的脱细胞同种异体神经移植物桥接大鼠坐骨神经10 mm缺损。光镜、透射电镜和扫描电镜观察再生神经的形态结构、有髓神经纤维数量、平均髓鞘厚度并进行统计学分析。结果光、电镜观察到实验组(SCs+ARSN)的施万细胞在再生神经纤维中互相连结纵行排列成类似Büngner带样细胞链,对照组(ARSN)未见到施万细胞的链状排列。实验组再生有髓神经纤维的髓鞘厚度较对照组均匀且较厚,有髓神经纤维数量和平均髓鞘厚度明显多于对照组(P<0.05)。结论种植施万细胞的脱细胞同种异体神经移植物对缺损的坐骨神经再生有更加有效的促进作用。     

Effects of Nogo-A and its receptor on the repair of sciatic nerve injury in rats

Regeneration of injured peripheral nerves is an extremely complex process. Nogo-A (neurite outgrowth inhibitor-A) inhibits axonal regeneration by interacting with Nogo receptor in the myelin sheath of the central nervous system (CNS). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Nogo-A and its receptor on the repair of sciatic nerve injury in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats (n=96) were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (control), sciatic nerve transection group (model), immediate repair group (immediate repair), and delayed repair group (delayed repair). The rats were euthanized 1 week and 6 weeks after operation. The injured end tissues of the spinal cord and sciatic nerve were obtained. The protein expressions of Nogo-A and Nogo-66 receptor (NgR) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The protein expressions of Nogo-A, NgR, and Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) were detected by western blot. At 1 week after operation, the pathological changes in the immediate repaired group were less, and the protein expressions of Nogo-A, NgR, and RhoA in the spinal cord and sciatic nerve tissues were decreased (P<0.05) compared with the model group. After 6 weeks, the pathological changes in the immediate repair group and the delayed repair group were alleviated and the protein expressions decreased (P<0.05). The situation of the immediate repair group was better than that of the delayed repair group. Our data suggest that the expression of Nogo-A and its receptor increased after sciatic nerve injury, indicating that Nogo-A and its receptor play an inhibitory role in the repair process of sciatic nerve injury in rats.     

Influence of nerve growth factor upon the injured peripheral nerve in the absence of its distal part

Transected peripheral nerve can be protected with different supplementations. One of them is implantation of dead-ended connective tissue chambers filled with fibrin and growth-promoting substances. The aim of this study was to find whether nerve growth factor (NGF) applied by means of such method exerts neuroprotective effect upon transected sciatic nerves. Study was performed on the adult male Wistar C rats. Connective tissue chambers grew around the silicone tubes implanted under their skin. Chambers were then filled with fibrin (control group) or fibrin with NGF solution (NGF group). Right sciatic nerve was cut, its distal stump was removed and its proximal stump was introduced into the chamber. Following 4 weeks DiI was applied to the free end of implant. The labeled motoneurons in the slices obtained from L3-L4 spinal cord segments and the number of myelinated nerve fibers present in the middle part of the chambers were counted. Acetylcholinesterase-positive fiber endings inside the chambers were also visualized. Our data showed that the number of motor neurons and their diameters as well as the number of myelinated fibers were higher in the NGF group when compared to the control group, but these differences were not significant. In both groups parallelly arranged acetylcholinesterase-positive nerve fibers were present. The obtained results show that NGF has no influence on regeneration of the motor component of the rat sciatic nerves in adult animals.     

Poly lactic acid-caprolactone copolymer tube with a denatured skeletal muscle segment inside as a guide for peripheral nerve regeneration: A morphological and electrophysiological evaluation of the regenerated nerves

A biodegradable copolymer of poly L-lactic acid and ε-caprolactone (PLAC) was manufactured into a tube, in which a denatured skeletal muscle segment was placed longitudinally. This model tube was implanted as a guide to promote nerve regeneration across a 5 cm gap in the rabbit sciatic nerve. Five months after implantation, good nerve regeneration was found throughout the graft and in the distal host nerve. The population (29.6/16 x 10^p2 μm^p2) of regenerated nerves in the graft was higher than that of the contralateral normal sciatic nerve (18.0/16 x 10^p2 μm^p2). Regenerated nerve fibers extended to the distal host nerve. The number of myelinated fibers was 13.7/16 x 10^p2 μm^p2 at a level 1.5 cm from the distal suture. The diameters (below 2 μm) of most regenerated myelinated nerves in the graft and in the distal host nerve were much smaller than those (6-8 μm) of normal nerves. Electrophysiological evaluation showed that the hindlimb muscle (gastrocnemius) was innervated by motor nerves in all animals 5 months after implantation. These results indicate that the PLAC tube with a denatured muscle segment inside provided good conditions for nerve fiber regrowth. The PLAC tube is thought to protect the denatured muscle segment from rapid dissociation in the host tissue.     

自噬抑制剂3-甲基腺嘌呤可提高小鼠同种异体坐骨神经移植效率

文题释义： 细胞自噬：指细胞在受到创伤、饥饿、缺氧、感染等应激状态下的一种自我保护机制,这一过程可以无选择性地发生于所有真核细胞中,真核细胞通过自噬作用清除老化的细胞器和蛋白,以此来维持细胞生长发育的平衡。自噬过程主要的诱发因素是饥饿,即细胞营养物质的缺乏,此外也可通过一些感染、损伤、特定的蛋白如热休克蛋白、细胞因子等选择性地引发。 华勒氏变性：是指周围神经损伤后,残留的轴突及髓鞘结构迅速发生退化、崩解、吸收的过程。这一复杂过程有多种细胞因子及炎症细胞参与,是周围神经损伤后最重要的病理变化过程之一,影响损伤后续的修复再生。 背景：近年最新研究表明,华勒氏变性的发生与许旺细胞的自噬活动密切相关,对许旺细胞自噬活动进行调控,可以显著影响华勒氏变性的发生发展,从而改变后续的轴突再生及髓鞘化过程。 目的：在同种异体神经移植中对移植片段的细胞自噬过程进行抑制,观察是否影响移植后的修复效率。 方法：获取8只雌性C57BL/6J小鼠(购自北京维通利华)坐骨神经片段16条,分2组,分别于含自噬抑制剂3-甲基腺嘌呤的培养基及普通培养基中处理72 h。取16只雌性C57BL/6J小鼠,建立左侧坐骨神经缺损模型,实验组(n=8)植入含自噬抑制剂3-甲基腺嘌呤培养基处理过的坐骨神经片段,对照组(n=8)植入普通培养基处理的坐骨神经片段,术后2,4,6,8周,记录坐骨神经指数;术后8周取再生坐骨神经段,分别进行苏木精-伊红染色、免疫荧光染色、甲苯胺蓝染色、透射电镜观察等。动物实验通过北京协和医学院动物伦理委员会批准。 结果与结论：①实验组术后8周的坐骨神经指数高于对照组(P < 0.05),其余时间点两组间比较差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05);②苏木精-伊红染色显示,实验组神经组织完整,对照组神经组织可见大面积空洞;③免疫荧光染色显示,实验组可见较完整的神经束结构,对照组未见完整的神经束结构;④甲苯胺蓝染色显示,实验组可见有髓神经纤维和部分再生无髓神经纤维,对照组仅见少量有髓神经纤维与新生无髓轴突;⑤透射电镜显示,实验组髓鞘厚度及有髓纤维直径均大于对照组(P < 0.05);⑥结果表明应用3-甲基腺嘌呤处理移植前神经片段,可抑制许旺细胞自噬,有助于保留移植物髓鞘结构完整性,促进轴突再生及功能的恢复。 ORCID: 0000-0002-6259-2668(徐筑秋) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松;组织工程     

Reinnervation and recovery of mouse soleus muscle after long-term denervation

Reinnervation and recovery of the mouse soleus muscle were studied 2-10 months after denervation periods of about 7 months. To maintain denervation the right sciatic nerve was frozen 14 times at 2-week intervals. Though initially intermittent muscle reinnervation occurred, contractile force of denervated muscles was reduced to less than 10% of the contralateral muscles by the fifth nerve freezing and further declined thereafter. Following reinnervation, recovery of soleus muscle force proceeded slowly to reach plateau values after 5-6 months. Tetanic muscle force reached on average 72% (range 58-86%, n = 12) of contralateral muscles after 5-10 months, (P less than 0.01, t-test for absolute values) and 87% of unoperated animals after 10 months (P less than 0.05, n = 5). Muscle fibre diameters were significantly reduced in reinnervated muscles, but frequency distributions were normal and similarly shaped in reinnervated and control muscles, suggesting complete muscle reinnervation and the absence of denervated fibres even at 2 months of reinnervation. Total numbers of muscle fibres were similar in reinnervated (842 +/- 73 S.D., n = 15), contralateral (854 +/- 104 S.D., n = 15) and control soleus muscles (853 +/- 77 S.D., n = 5). The number of myelinated axons in regenerating soleus nerves reached control values by 3 months after the last freezing, continued to increase till 6 months (150% of control), and declined thereafter (125% at 9-10 months). In the contralateral soleus nerves the number of myelinated axons remained constant during this period. Nerve fibre diameters remained abnormally small; even after 10 months of reinnervation fibre diameters were unimodally distributed with a mean diameter of 3.3 microns in contrast to the bimodal distribution in intact nerves (mean values 3.9 and 9.0 microns, respectively). Total fibre cross-section area per nerve increased with time but reached only 54% +/- 6 S.D., (n = 3) of contralateral nerves by 10 months. The relative thickness of the myelin sheath (g-ratio) returned to normal after 9-10 months. Anatomically, muscle reinnervation appeared to be complete by 7-8 weeks since unusually small muscle fibre profiles were absent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

改良兔防御素1对周围神经损伤修复后神经再生的作用北大核心

BACKGROUND: Peripheral nerve injury is a common disease in clinic, which severely affects the patients' quality of life. How to promote peripheral nerve regeneration is an issue of concern. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of modified rabbit defensin 1 on peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery. METHODS: Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. The rat sciatic nerves were transected and bridged by biodegenerated chitin conduits, followed by the injection of neurotrophic factor (group 1), modified rabbit defensin 1 (group 2) and normal saline (control group) into the gluteus, respectively, for consecutive 7 days. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The sciatic nerve function index in the groups 1 and 2 was higher than that in the control group at 4 weeks postoperatively. The order of motor nerve conductive velocity was as follows: group 1 > group 2 > control group. The diameter regenerated fibers and axons, and the myelin thickness in the group 2 were less than those in the group 1, but were more than those in the control group. These results indicate that the modified rabbit defensin 1 can promote peripheral nerve regeneration, which may be related with the clearance of residual myelin by macrophages and the improvement in nerve regeneration environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]     

人工组织神经移植物对大鼠陈旧性坐骨神经缺损(60天)的修复作用

目的 观察人工组织神经移植物对陈旧性大鼠坐骨神经缺损的修复作用.方法 切除成年SD大鼠部分左侧坐骨神经,饲养60d形成陈旧性坐骨神经缺损后,以人工组织神经移植物修复缺损,同时设自体神经修复和不修复两对照组.修复术后3个月做神经-肌复合电位、腓肠肌湿重及再生神经形态学检测.结果 人工组织神经移植物修复组实验侧的运动神经传导速度、腓肠肌湿重、移植物远侧再生神经有髓神经纤维髓鞘厚度等结果与自体神经修复组相似.不修复对照组则未记录到神经-肌复合电位,未观察到再生神经纤维结构,腓肠肌湿重明显小于人工组织神经移植组和自体神经移植组.结论 人工组织神经移植物在一定程度上能修复缺损60d的大鼠坐骨神经.     

Inhibition of calpains, by treatment with leupeptin, improves motoneuron survival and muscle function in models of motoneuron degeneration

The effect of treatment with leupeptin, a calpain inhibitor, on motoneuron survival and muscle function was examined in in vitro and in vivo models of motoneuron degeneration. Exposure of primary rat motoneurons to alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) is an established in vitro model of excitotoxic motoneuron death. Here we show that leupeptin treatment improved motoneuron survival following exposure to AMPA (50 microM). Application of leupeptin (100 microM) to AMPA treated cultures rescued many motoneurons so that 74% (+/-3.4 S.E.M., n=5) survived compared with only 49% (+/-2.4 S.E.M., n=5) in untreated cultures. The effect of treatment with leupeptin on motoneuron survival and muscle function was also examined in vivo. In 3 day-old rats, the sciatic nerve was crushed and at the time of injury, a silicon implant containing leupeptin was inserted onto the lumbar spinal cord. The effect on long-term motoneuron survival and muscle function was assessed 12 weeks after injury. The results showed that there was long-term improvement in motoneuron survival in the leupeptin treated group. Thus, in untreated animals 12 weeks after nerve crush only 30% (+/-2.8. S.E.M., n=3) of sciatic motoneurons survived compared with 43% (+/-1.5 S.E.M., n=3) in the leupeptin-treated group. This improvement in motoneuron survival was reflected in a significant improvement in muscle function in the leupeptin-treated group. For example in the soleus muscle of treated rats 20.8 (+/-1.40 S.E.M., n=5) motor units survived compared with only 14.6 (+/-1.21 S.E.M., n=5) in untreated animals. Thus, treatment with leupeptin, a calpain inhibitor, rescues motoneurons from cell death and improves muscle function following nerve injury.     

海藻纤维膜片促进大鼠损伤坐骨神经的再生

背景：课题组和青岛大学高分子材料研究所合作研制的海藻纤维生物膜,具有优良的生物相容性,常被用作制备各种复合材料。 目的：观察海藻纤维膜片包绕覆盖神经断端吻合口对大鼠坐骨神经损伤后再生的影响。 方法：切断36只雄性Wistar大鼠右侧坐骨神经,随机分组：对照组行神经外膜端端吻合;实验组行神经外膜端端缝合,将海藻纤维膜片包绕并覆盖神经吻合口远近端各约0.5 cm,形成封闭再生室。术后观察海藻纤维膜片降解吸收规律及缝合处粘连情况,组织学切片行苏木精-伊红染色、锇酸染色、白细胞介素2及白细胞介素4免疫组织化学染色。 结果与结论：术后4-6周,实验组海藻纤维膜片逐渐被降解吸收,与周围组织粘连较少,炎性细胞浸润程度较轻,纤维组织增生较少。两组术后1,7,14 d的白细胞介素2及白细胞介素4含量比较差异无显著性意义。实验组术后6周再生神经纤维分布规则且大小较为均一,其神经纤维数量、轴突大小及髓鞘厚度等指标均显著优于对照组(P < 0.05)。表明海藻纤维膜片具有良好的生物降解性和组织相容性,其包绕覆盖坐骨神经形成的神经再生密闭室可促进大鼠损伤坐骨神经再生。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程全文链接：     

Bioactive poly(L-lactic acid) conduits seeded with Schwann cells for peripheral nerve regeneration.

This study attempted to enhance the efficacy of peripheral nerve regeneration using our previously tested poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) conduits by incorporating them with allogeneic Schwann cells (SCs). The SCs were harvested, cultured to obtain confluent monolayers and two concentrations (1 x 10(4) and 1 x 10(6) SC/ml) were combined with a collagen matrix (Vitrogen) and injected into the PLLA conduits. The conduits were then implanted into a 12 mm right sciatic nerve defect in rats. Three control groups were used: isografts, PLLA conduits filled with collagen alone and empty silicone tubes. The sciatic functional index (SFI) was calculated monthly through four months. At the end of second and fourth months, the gastrocnemius muscle was harvested and weighed for comparison and the graft conduit and distal nerve were harvested for histomorphologic analysis. The mean SFI demonstrated no group differences from isograft control. By four months, there was no significant difference in gastrocnemius muscle weight between the experimental groups compared to isograft controls. At four months, the distal nerve demonstrated a statistically lower number of axons mm2 for the high and low SC density groups and collagen control. The nerve fiber density was significantly lower in all of the groups compared to isograft controls by four months. The development of a "bioactive" nerve conduit using tissue engineering to replace autogenous nerve grafts offers a potential approach to improved patient care. Although equivalent nerve regeneration to autografts was not achieved, this study provides promising results for further investigation.