Reinnervation of peripheral nerve segments implanted into the hemisected spinal cord estimated by transgenic mice

We investigated how far Schwann cells, which are the peripheral nerve elements supporting axonal regrowth, penetrate into the hemisected recipient spinal cord. C57BL/6 mice, which carry carcinoembryonic antigen as transgene, were used for transplantation study. These CEA transgenic mice were syngenic to C57BL/6 mice except for the expression of human CEA DNA. In the syngenic transplantation study, C57BL/6 mice were transplanted with the sciatic nerve of CEA-transgenic mice to the hemisected spinal cord. Schwann cell migration into the recipient spinal cord was detected by the PCR method. Transplanted Schwann cells migrated into the recipient spinal cord both rostrally and caudally at a distance of 2 mm from the graft-host interface until 21 days after transplantation. At 28 days after transplantation, the Schwann cells migrated rostrally at a distance of 2 mm and caudally at a distance of 4 mm. C57BL/6-CEA sciatic nerve was transplanted to BALB/C mice as the allogenic transplant. CEA DNA was detected until 14 days after transplantation, but disappeared at 21 days. In addition, C57BL/6-CEA sciatic nerves were transplanted into Wistar rats to study xenogenic transplantation. The CEA band disappeared at 10 days after transplantation. In conclusion, by using CEA transgenic mice and the PCR method, we could evaluate the mobility of Schwann cells which are thought to play an important role in axonal regeneration.