Abstract: Single and Double Reinnervation of the Gastrocnemius Muscle in Rats - Experimental Model

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pluronic F127 fibers, 1.5 mm in diameter, were sacrificed in type I collagen, creating a central looped microchannel. 100μL polyculture cell suspension mixture of 5 x 10 cells/mL of human foreskin fibroblasts and 5 x 10 cells/mL of human aortic smooth muscle cells was seeded into the microchannel. The following day, a 100μL cell suspension of 5 x 10 cells/mL of human placental pericytes and 5 x 10 cells/mL of human umbilical vein endothelial cells was seeded into the microchannel. All constructs underwent daily media changes in static culture for 7 days, and then half were perfused at 10 dynes/cm for an additional 7 days. After 14 days, scaffolds were fixed and processed.