The Effects of Chicken Embryo Brain Extract on Sciatic Nerve Regeneration of Male Rat; An Experimental Study

To determine the effects of chicken embryo brain extract (BE) on transects sciatic nerve in male rats.

Thirty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200 to 250 g, were randomized into three groups treated with (1) sham surgery, (2) normal saline (NS), and (3) brain extract (BE). The BE was taken from incubating chick embryos at day 8. The sciatic nerve was exposed and sharply transected at the mid thigh level. Immediate epineurial repair was then performed. The BE treated animals were given 400 µl/kg of the chick embryo BE intraperitoneal, once daily, for 2 weeks. All animals were evaluated by sciatic functional index (SFI), electrophysiology, histology, and immunohistochemistry at days 28, 90 after surgery.

The mean SFI difference between BE and NS groups at days 28, 60 and 90 after surgery was statistically significant (p=0.086). The mean number of myelinated fibers in the BE group was significantly greater than that of the NS group on days 28 and 90 after surgery (p=0.034). At days 28 and 90 after surgery, the mean nerve conduction velocity (NCV) in the BE group was significantly faster than that of the NS group (p=0.041).

These results indicate for the first time that chick embryo brain extract can enhance peripheral nerve regeneration in rat.