Affiliations: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of
Clinical CNS Research, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet,
Stockholm, Sweden
Note: [] Corresponding author: Per Mattsson, Department of Clinical
Neuroscience, Division of Clinical CNS Research, R2:02, Karolinska University
Hospital, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel.: +46 8 5177
5948; Fax: +46 8 5177 1778; E-mail: per.mattsson@karolinska.se
Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate whether a standardized nerve graft bridging of
a spinal cord injury gap in a device with white to grey matter projections
allows regeneration and electrophysiological contact from supraspinal centers
to the leg, since previous studies using nerve grafts in combination with
acidic fibroblast growth factor have been difficult to microsurgically
reproduce. Methods: A moulded prosthesis containing twelve peripheral nerve
grafts with estimated pre-set projections guiding white tracts to grey matter
replaced a spinal cord resection gap at level T11 in adult rats. The animals
were evaluated with electrophysiology, morphology, immunohistochemistry and
functional scoring. Results: At six months postoperatively the grafts were found to be
positioned at the desired locations, motor evoked potentials were detected in
80% of the animals subjected to nerve graft bridging. Morphology and
immunohistochemical analysis revealed numerous de novo axons in the grafts,
which possibly reached into the spinal cord on the other side. Conclusion: Replacing the resected spinal cord with oblique
peripheral nerve grafts results in spinal cord regeneration and positive motor
evoked potential. Transplantation of nerve grafts organized in a prosthesis is
re-producible, sustains desired projections and ensures transverse ends towards
the spinal cord surface and may be useful in the future.
Keywords: Spinal cord injury, rat, grey matter, white matter, regeneration, prosthesis, peripheral nerve
