Background: Conventional nerve grafting was used for
treatment of nerve defects. However, the slow rate of nerve
regeneration, donor site limitations and morbidities were considered
the major disadvantages of this technique.
Objective: In this article, a novel motor neuron nerve allografts
were used to accelerate nerve regeneration and were
compared to nerve allograft in a rat model.
Methods: We harvested full motor neuron grafts and conventional
nerve grafts and used them to reconstruct a ten mm
defect in the motor nerve to the Extensor Digitorum communis
(EDC).
Results: Histological examination confirmed intact connections
between the motor neurons and its axons. The mean
of the amplitudes of evoked potentials of neuron graft group < br />and conventional graft group were 12.2±3.6 milliampere and
8.0±6.0 milliampere. However, muscle force, muscle weight
and histological examination showed insignificant differences
between the two groups.
Conclusion: Full neuron transfer is a new type of nerve
grafts in the rat model. As a preliminary report, we investigated
the viability of the transferred nerve cells and if they worked as
a booster for augmentation of the signals. Electrophysiological
examinations showed favorable results and histological studies
showed the survival of the motor neurons outside the central
nervous system.