Further evaluation of the effects of laminin, testosterone, ganglioside GM 1, and catalase on early growth in rat nerve regeneration chambers.

We present here the results of an extended series of experiments on the effects of exogenous biochemical agents on nerve regeneration. They were applied by multiple injection into in vivo nerve regeneration chambers developed in this laboratory for rat sciatic nerve. Previously, a mixture of laminin, testosterone, ganglioside GM 1, and catalase at a defined concentration was shown to substantially advance the progress and maturation of regeneration in 16-day chambers, out of a variety of numerous other agents screened. In this study, an attempt is made to further clarify the contribution of the single ingredients used in combination. None of the agents proved to be able to mimic the previously observed effects by themselves (to their full extent). The best results were obtained by application of laminin; catalase treatment revealed results apparently worse than those in controls. Therefore, a redefined combination of the described agents, catalase now being omitted, was also tested. These results appeared to be grossly similar to those we recently reported.