- Mast cells improve functional recovery of transected peripheral nerve: A novel preliminary study
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Leila Zarei,1,* Farzaneh Chehelcheraghi,2
1. Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
2. Assistance professor of Anatomical Sciences Department Lorestan University of medical sciences.
- Introduction: Employment of regenerative properties of cells at the service of nerve repair has been
initiated during recent decades. Effects of local transplantation of bone marrow-derived mast cells on
peripheral nerve regeneration were studied using a rat sciatic nerve transection model
- Methods: A 10-mm sciatic nerve defect was bridged using a conduit chitosan-based hybrid
conduit filled with BMMCs in BMMC group. In positive control group (Pos), the conduit was filled with
phosphate-buffered saline alone. The regenerated nerve fibers were studied within 12 weeks after
surgery. In sham-operated group, the sciatic nerve was only exposed and manipulated. In negative
control (Neg) a 10-mm sciatic nerve defect was created and the nerve stumps were sutured to the
adjacent muscles. The regenerated nerve fibers were studied functionally, biomechanically, histologically
and immunohiscochemically
- Results: Functional and biomechanical studies confirmed faster recovery of regenerated axons in BMMCs
transplanted animals compared to Pos group (p < 0.05). Morphometric indices of the regenerated fibers
showed that the number and diameter of the myelinated fibers were significantly higher in BMMCs
transplanted animals than in Pos group (p < 0.05). In immunohistochemistry, location of reactions to S-
100 in BMMCs transplanted animals was clearly more positive than that in Pos group.
- Conclusion: BMMCs transplantation could be considered as a readily accessible source of cells that could
improve functional recovery of transected sciatic nerve.
- Keywords: Nerve regeneration
BMMCs Chitosan conduit