Wound chamber study of nerve and blood vessel growth

Recent experimental studies using wound chambers (silicone tubes) sutured to the transected rat sciatic nerve or thigh muscle have shown an accumulation of plasma-containing fluid and the formation of a fibrin/fibronectin clot within the chambers during the early phase. The plasma proteins leaked into the wound due to increased vascular permeability caused by the trauma. The fibrin/fibronectin clot in concert with neurotrophic factors play a key role in the promotion of growth and migration of endothelial cells, Schwann cells and axons during the early phase. Cessation of cell growth and migration coincided with removal of fibrin through fibrinolysis and collagen deposition in the extracellular space. The appearance of extracellular matrix was closely related to the morphological event of differentiation and formation of open capillaries and nerve fascicles. These findings suggest that in addition to hemostasis, fibrin polymerization (thrombosis) and fibrinolysis play vital pathophysiological roles in angiogenesis, nerve regeneration and other aspects of wound healing. These studies emphasize the importance of integrating information from many areas of research in order to understand some of the basic principles in Biology and Medicine.