Nerve-regenerating effect of 15-deoxyspergualin. Peripheral nerve allotransplants in the rat.

We studied the effect of two immunosuppressive agents, 15-deoxyspergualin and cyclosporine A, on various nerve allografts in inbred rats whose major histocompatibility complex was mismatched. As allografts, we used the sciatic nerve (20 mm) and the saphenous nerve (20 mm). We found that 1) fresh peripheral nerve allografts with a short course of 15-deoxyspergualin and cyclosporine A therapy induced more regenerated axons than autografts did, 2) a short course of 15-deoxyspergualin therapy provided better nerve regeneration than cyclosporine A therapy in all forms of nerve allografts and large caliber nerve allografts induced more regenerated axons.