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Updated: May 6, 2026
Combining Peripheral Nerve Grafting and Matrix Modulation to Repair the Injured Rat Spinal Cord
Published on: November 20, 2009
In vivo application of poly-3-hydroxyoctanoate as peripheral nerve graft
D Burcu Hazer1, Ercan Bal, Gülay Nurlu
1Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla 48000, Turkey; Atatürk Research and Medical Center, Neurosurgery Clinic, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey, Ankara 06110, Turkey; Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey; Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey; Atatürk Research and Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara 06110, Turkey; Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla 48000, Turkey; Department of Chemistry, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak 67100, Turkey.
Objective:
This study aims to investigate the degree of biocompatibility and neuroregeneration of a polymer tube, poly-3-hydroxyoctanoate (PHO) in nerve gap repair.
Methods:
Forty Wistar Albino male rats were randomized into two groups: autologous nerve gap repair group and PHO tube repair group. In each group, a 10-mm right sciatic nerve defect was created and reconstructed accordingly. Neuroregeneration was studied by sciatic function index (SFI), electromyography, and immunohistochemical studies on Days 7, 21, 45 and 60 of implantation. Biocompatibility was analyzed by the capsule formation around the conduit. Biodegradation was analyzed by the molecular weight loss in vivo.
Results:
Electrophysiological and histomorphometric assessments demonstrated neuroregeneration in both groups over time. In the experimental group, a straight alignment of the Schwann cells parallel to the axons was detected. However, autologous nerve graft seems to have a superior neuroregeneration compared to PHO grafts. Minor biodegradation was observed in PHO conduit at the end of 60 d.
Conclusions:
Although neuroregeneration is detected in PHO grafts with minor degradation in 60 d, autologous nerve graft is found to be superior in axonal regeneration compared to PHO nerve tube grafts. PHO conduits were found to create minor inflammatory reaction in vivo, resulting in good soft tissue response.
