Aim:The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in type II neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) during the regeneration process following autologous sciatic nerve transplantation in rats.
Material and Methods:A total of 40 Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into an experimental and control group. There were 20 rats in each group.Five time points were set on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days after surgery. In the experimental group, reversed autologous transplantation of the sciatic nerve was performed, while in the control group, the sciatic nerve was only exposed. Changes in the rat footprints were observed at different time points, the sciatic functional index(SFI) was calculated, regeneration of the myelin sheath were observed by transmission electron microscopy, type II NRG-1 protein were detected by western blotting, and type II NRG-1 mRNA were detected by real-time PCR.
Results:The SFI of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group at all time points after surgery, and the SFI of the experimental group was gradually increased. The expression of type II NRG-1 protein in the experimental group was significantly increased on the 3rd day, peaking on the 7th day, and continued until the 28th day after surgery. The area of medullated nerve fibers(um2) in the experimental group was significantly different from that in the control group on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days(P<0.01).
Conclusion:Type II NRG-1 peaked between the 3rd day and 14th day after autologous nerve transplantation and was probably involved in the regulation of myelin sheath regeneration during this period.
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