Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in rats were retrogradely labeled with the fluorescent tracer Fluorogold (FG) and subjected to GAP-43 and c-JUN immunocytochemistry to identify those RGCs that are capable of regenerating an axon. After optic nerve section (ONS) and simultaneous application of FG to the nerve stump (group 1 experiments), GAP-43 immunoreactive RGCs (between 2 and 21 days after ONS) ...

Peripheral nerve injuries are common in the setting of complex upper extremity trauma. Early identification of nerve injuries and intervention is critical for maximizing return of function. In this review, the principles of nerve injury, patient evaluation, and surgical management are discussed. An evidence-based approach to nerve reconstruction is reviewed, including the benefits and limitatio...

Losses in vital functions of the somatic motor and sensory nervous system are induced by severe long-gap peripheral nerve transection injury. In such cases, autologous nerve grafts are the gold standard treatment, despite the unavoidable sacrifice of other healthy functions, whereas the prognosis is not always favorable. Here, we use human skeletal muscle-derived stem cells (Sk-SCs) to reconsti...

Objective(s): Peripheral nerves are commonly damaged. Although the nerve autograft still subsists the gold standard in surgery of nerve injury gaps, it has severe detriment. The egg shell membrane (ESM) is a natural material, which has a great potential in practice. The aim of this survey was to appraise the effect of lycopene and the ESM nerve guidance channel on scia...

OBJECTIVE Hollow nerve conduits made of natural or synthetic biomaterials are used clinically to aid regeneration of peripheral nerves damaged by trauma or disease. To support healing, conduit lumen patency must be maintained until recovery occurs. New methods to study conduit structural integrity would provide an important means to optimize conduits in preclinical studies. We explored a novel ...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the ability of a tissue-engineered nerve construct composed of a nerve guidance channel and neurally differentiated human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hASCs) to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve model. DESIGN A 13-mm sciatic nerve gap was bridged with silastic conduits in 64 athymic nude rats, and differentiated hASCs were implanted into ...

OBJECTIVE Present study aimed at further comprehensive functional, histomorphometrical and immunohistochemical assessment of peripheral nerve regeneration using rat sciatic nerve transection model. METHODS The 10-mm rat sciatic nerve gap was created in rats. In control group nerve stumps were sutured to adjacent muscle and in treatment group the gap was bridged using an inside-out vein graft....

Background: The limited availability of donor sites for nerve grafting has continued to stimulate research toward finding suitable alternatives for autograft. The aim of this research was to study the effect of piezoelectric channel and collagen gel on nerve regeneration. Materials and methods: This research is an experimental study. Forty eight male rats (200-250 gr) were used. After axotomy...

The neuronal-specific RNA-binding protein, HuD, binds to a U-rich regulatory element of the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of the GAP-43 mRNA and delays the onset of its degradation. We have recently shown that overexpression of HuD in embryonic rat cortical cells accelerated the time course of normal neurite outgrowth and resulted in a twofold increase in GAP-43 mRNA levels. Given this eviden...