Institute of Orthopedics, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China.
J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2020 Jun;14(6):819-828. doi: 10.1002/term.3048. Epub 2020 May 8.
To enhance the angiogenic capacity of tissue-engineered peripheral nerves, we have constructed revascularized tissue-engineered nerves based on a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-heparin sustained release system. However, the effects of the repair of large peripheral nerve defects are not known. In this study, we used the above revascularized tissue-engineered nerve to repair large nerve defects in rats. The repair effects were observed through general observation, functional evaluation of nerve regeneration, ultrasound examination, neural electrophysiology, wet weight ratio of bilateral gastrocnemius muscle, histological evaluation, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The results showed that the tissue-engineered peripheral nerve based on a VEGF-heparin sustained release system can achieve early vascularization and restore blood supply in the nerve graft area. The realization of early vascularization in the area of the nerve defect greatly promotes the speed of nerve regeneration and reconstruction in the area of the nerve defect, which greatly advances the process of nerve repair and reconstruction and accelerates the restoration of the normal morphological structure and function of peripheral nerves.
为了增强组织工程化外周神经的血管生成能力，我们构建了基于血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）-肝素持续释放系统的再血管化组织工程神经。然而，对于修复大的周围神经缺损的效果尚不清楚。在这项研究中，我们使用了上述再血管化组织工程神经来修复大鼠的大神经缺损。通过一般观察、神经再生功能评估、超声检查、神经电生理学、双侧比目鱼肌湿重比、组织学评估和实时定量聚合酶链反应（PCR）分析来观察修复效果。结果表明，基于 VEGF-肝素持续释放系统的组织工程化外周神经可以实现早期血管化并恢复神经移植物区域的血液供应。神经缺损区域早期血管化的实现极大地促进了神经缺损区域神经再生和重建的速度，极大地推进了神经修复和重建的过程，并加速了周围神经正常形态结构和功能的恢复。
