Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Am J Chin Med. 2010;38(3):547-60. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X10008044.
The present study provides in vitro and in vivo evaluations of earthworm (Pheretima aspergilum) on peripheral nerve regeneration. In the in vitro study, we found the earthworm (EW) water extracts caused a marked enhancement of the nerve growth factor-mediated neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells as well as the expressions of growth associated protein 43 and synapsin I. In the in vivo study, silicone rubber chambers filled with EW extracts were used to bridge a 10 mm sciatic nerve defect in rats. Eight weeks after implantation, the group receiving EW extracts had a much higher success percentage of regeneration (90%) compared to the control (60%) receiving the saline. In addition, quantitative histology of the successfully regenerated nerves revealed that myelinated axons in EW group at 31.25 microg/ml was significantly more than those in the controls (p < 0.05). These results showed that EW extracts can be a potential growth-promoting factor on regenerating peripheral nerves.
本研究通过体内外实验评估了蚯蚓（赤子爱胜蚓）对周围神经再生的作用。在体外实验中，我们发现蚯蚓水提物可显著增强神经生长因子介导的 PC12 细胞突起生长，并增强生长相关蛋白 43 和突触素 I 的表达。在体内实验中，我们用含有蚯蚓提取物的硅橡胶管桥接大鼠 10mm 坐骨神经缺损。植入 8 周后，接受蚯蚓提取物的实验组神经再生成功率（90%）明显高于对照组（生理盐水，60%）。此外，成功再生神经的定量组织学显示，在 31.25μg/ml 时，蚯蚓组的有髓轴突数量明显多于对照组（p<0.05）。这些结果表明，蚯蚓提取物可能是一种促进周围神经再生的潜在生长因子。
