Stang Felix, Fansa Hisham, Wolf Gerald, Keilhoff Gerburg
Institute of Medical Neurobiology and Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University of Magdeburg, Germany.
Biomed Mater Eng. 2005;15(1-2):3-12.
Bridging of nerve gaps is still a major problem in peripheral nerve surgery. Alternatively to autologous nerve grafts tissue engineering of peripheral nerves focuses on biocompatible conduits to reconstruct nerves. Such non-neural conduits fail to support regeneration over larger gaps due to lacking viable Schwann cells that promote regeneration by producing growth factors and cell guiding molecules. This problem may be overcome by implantation of cultivated Schwann cells into suitable scaffolds. In the present experiments we tested a collagen type I/III tube as a potential nerve guiding matrix. Revascularization, tolerance and Schwann cell settlement were evaluated by light, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy after different implantation times. The conduits were completely revascularized between day 5 and 7 post-operatively and well integrated into the host tissue. Implanted Schwann cells adhered, survived and proliferated on the inner surface of the conduits. Nevertheless, bridging a 2 cm gap of the sciatic nerve of adult Wistar rats with these collagen/Schwann cell conduits led to a disappointing regeneration compared to controls with autologous grafts. From these results, we conclude that a sufficient biocompatibility of bioartificial nerve conduits is a necessary prerequisite, however, it remains only one of several parameters important for peripheral nerve regeneration.
神经间隙的桥接仍然是周围神经外科手术中的一个主要问题。与自体神经移植不同，周围神经组织工程专注于使用生物相容性导管来重建神经。由于缺乏通过产生生长因子和细胞导向分子促进再生的活雪旺细胞，这种非神经导管无法支持在较大间隙上的再生。通过将培养的雪旺细胞植入合适的支架中，这个问题可能会得到克服。在本实验中，我们测试了I/III型胶原管作为潜在的神经导向基质。在不同的植入时间后，通过光学显微镜、荧光显微镜和扫描电子显微镜评估血管再生、耐受性和雪旺细胞沉降情况。导管在术后第5天至第7天完全实现血管再生，并很好地整合到宿主组织中。植入的雪旺细胞在导管内表面粘附、存活并增殖。然而，与自体移植对照组相比，用这些胶原/雪旺细胞导管桥接成年Wistar大鼠坐骨神经的2厘米间隙导致了令人失望的再生效果。从这些结果中，我们得出结论，生物人工神经导管具有足够的生物相容性是一个必要前提，然而，它仍然只是对周围神经再生重要的几个参数之一。
