Turkish Neurosurgery
The effect of cerebro-spinal fluid in collagen guide channel on sciatic nerve regeneration in rat
Gholam Hossein Farjah1, Mohammad Amin Dolatkhah2, Bagher Pourheidar3, Behnam Heshmatian4
1Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Neurophysiology Research Center, Department of Anatomy, Urmia,
2Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Department of Anatomy, Urmia,
3Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Neurophysiology Research Center, Department of Anatomy, Urmia,
4Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Neurophysiology Research Center, Department of Anatomy, Urmia,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.16004-15.2

Aim:The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) in nerve regeneration across the collagen guide channel in comparison with autograft.Material and Methods:Forty adult male rats (250-300g) were randomized into (1) collagen channel + CSF, (2) collagen channel + normal saline (NS), (3) autograft, and (4) sham surgery groups. The left sciatic nerve was exposed and a 10mm nerve segment was cut and removed. In the collagen groups, the proximal and distal cuts ends of sciatic nerve were telescoped into the nerve guides and CSF or NS injected into collagen conduit. To the autograft group, the 10 mm nerve segment was turned backwards and used an autologous nerve graft. All animals were evaluated by sciatic functional index (SFI) and electrophysiology, histology, and immunohistochemistry testing.Results:The improvements in SFI since the beginning of the last evaluation in experimental groups were measured. On days 49 and 60 post-operation, the mean SFI of the collagen + CSF group was significantly greater than the autograft group (P< 0.05). On day 90, the mean nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of the collagen + CSF group was greater than autograft group (P< 0.05). The number of myelinated fibers in the collagen + CSF group was significantly greater than that of the collagen + NS group at day 90 (P<0.05).Conclusion:These findings showed that CSF in collagen nerve guide channel effectively enhances nerve regeneration and promotes functional recovery in injured sciatic nerve of rats.

Corresponding author : Gholam Hossein Farjah