Functional, Histopathological and Immunohistichemical Assessments of Cyclosporine A on Sciatic Nerve Regeneration Using Allografts: A Rat Sciatic Nerve Model.

OBJECTIVES

To study the functional, histopathological and immunohistochemical effect of cyclosporine A on sciatic nerve regeneration using allografts in a rat sciatic nerve model.

METHODS

Thirty male white Wistar rats were divided into three experimental groups (n = 10), randomly: Normal control group (NC), allograft group (ALLO), CsA treated group (ALLO/ CsA). In NC group left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and after homeostasis muscle was sutured. In the ALLO group the left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and transected proximal to the tibio-peroneal bifurcation where a 10 mm segment was excised. The same procedure was performed in the ALLO/ CsA group and the animals were treated with interaperitoneal administration of cyclosporine A. The harvested nerves of the rats of ALLO group were served as allograft for ALLO/ CsA group and vice versa. The NC and ALLO groups received 300 μL sterile olive oil interaperitoneally once a day for one week and the ALLO/ CsA group received 300 μL CsA (1mg/kg/day) interaperitoneally once a day for one week.

RESULTS

Behavioral, functional, biomechanical and gastrocnemius muscle mass showed earlier regeneration of axons in ALLO/ CsA than in ALLO group (=0.001). Histomorphometic and immunohistochemical studies also showed earlier regeneration of axons in ALLO/ CsA than in ALLO group (=0.034).

CONCLUSION

Administration of CsA could accelerate functional recovery after nerve allografting in sciatic nerve. It may have clinical implications for the surgical management of patients after nerve transection in emergency conditions.