A Method for Reconstruction of Severely Damaged Sciatic Nerve Using Autologous Wharton s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Chitosan/Poly Ethylene Glycol as a Synthetic Scaffold: Paw Withdrawal Latency (PWL) Testing

There have been attempts to alter the status of severest sciatic nerve injury in different investigations, but none of which have reliably altered the outcome. Some studies use stem cells (SCs) that produced widely differing results. We hereby add our experience in Neuroscience research center of a surgical reconstruction of the damaged sciatic nerve using a mixture of SCs and Chitosan/Poly ethylene glycol (Cs/PEG) as a synthetic scaffold. After the rats were taken to surgery and treatment was done, a PWL measurement was performed for both right and left claws via a plantar analgesia meter. Time to paw withdrawal latency (PAW) to a thermal stimulus for both paws and an assessment of motor function were measured every 30 min after the nerve block until a return to baseline. At 8 weeks after surgery, paw withdrawal latency (PWL) testing showed improvement in the group with a mixture of SCs and Chitosan/Poly ethylene glycol (Cs/PEG) as a synthetic scaffold compared to control and sham groups (p<0.05). Using a mixture of SCs and Chitosan/Poly ethylene glycol (Cs/PEG) as a synthetic scaffold may play a role in restoring sciatic nerve functions

Keywords:

Synthetic scaffold , Non-autologous stem cells , Sciatic nerve injury