BACKGROUND The growth-associated protein GAP-43 plays a crucial role in axonal regeneration in injured neurons. METHODS We have used immunohistochemistry to investigate the expression of GAP-43 in spinal motoneurons during nerve reconstruction following root avulsion in the neonatal and adult rats. RESULTS Following the injury, GAP-43-immunoreactivity (IR) could be found in adult avulsed mo...

Long gap peripheral nerve injuries usually reulting in life-changing problems for patients. Skeletal muscle derived-multipotent stem cells (Sk-MSCs) can differentiate into Schwann and perineurial/endoneurial cells, vascular relating pericytes, and endothelial and smooth muscle cells in the damaged peripheral nerve niche. Application of the Sk-MSCs in the bridging conduit for repairing long nerv...

Regulation of neurite outgrowth and structural plasticity may involve the expression of intrinsic determinants controlling growth competence. We have tested this concept by targeting constitutive expression of the growth-associated protein GAP-43 to the neurons of adult transgenic mice. Such mice showed striking spontaneous nerve sprouting at the neuromuscular junction and in the terminal field...

Peripheral nerve injury is a debilitating condition for which new bioengineering solutions are needed. Autografting, the gold standard in treatment, involves sacrifice of a healthy nerve and results in loss of sensation or function at the donor site. One alternative solution to autografting is to use a nerve guide conduit designed to physically guide the nerve as it regenerates across the injur...

Many chemicals with broad industrial, pharmaceutical and agricultural application produce a neurotoxic syndrome in humans and experimental animals involving weight loss, skeletal muscle weakness and ataxia. Neurotoxicity is defined as a structural change or a functional alteration of the nervous system resulting from exposure to a chemical, biological or physical agent. Neurotoxicity including ...

objective: transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells (bmscs) or schwann cells (scs) can facilitate axonal regeneration in peripheral nerve injuries. the aim of this study was to compare the effects of transplantation of bmscs and scs on functional recovery after injury to the sciatic nerve in the rat. materials and methods:in this experimental research, adult male wistar rats (n=24, 250-300 ...

Neurotmesis must be surgically treated by direct end-to-end suture of the two nerve stumps or by a nerve graft harvested from elsewhere in the body in case of tissue loss. To avoid secondary damage due to harvesting of the nerve graft, a tube-guide can be used to bridge the nerve gap. Previously, our group developed and tested hybrid chitosan membranes for peripheral nerve tubulization and show...

The long-term outcome of peripheral nerve injury is often unsatisfactory, especially if the injury resulted in a gap between transected nerve stumps. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor, trkB, are strongly implicated in the early phase of axonal regeneration after injury. We examined the role of trkB in long-term functional and morphological outcome of peripheral nerve injury. Th...

Varicosities of nitrergic and other nerves end on deep muscular plexus interstitial cells of Cajal or on CD34-positive, c-kit-negative fibroblast-like cells. Both cell types connect to outer circular muscle by gap junctions, which may transmit nerve messages to muscle. We tested the hypotheses that gap junctions transmit pacing messages from interstitial cells of Cajal of the myenteric plexus. ...

In some traumatic nerve injuries, autologous nerve grafting is the first choice for bridging the gap between the severed nerve ends. However, this therapeutic strategy has some disadvantages, including permanent loss of donor function and requirement of multiple surgeries. An attractive alternative to this therapeutic technique is the use of artificial nerve conduit. Poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA)...