Comparison Outcome of Nerve Regeneration across an Eggshell Membrane Guidance Channel and Autograft

Background: Peripheral nerves may be damaged during an injury and itscurrent standard treatment is using an autologous nerve.Objectives: The purpose of this experimental study is to evaluate and comparethe histological results of nerve regeneration after using the eggshell membrane(ESM) guidance channel with autograft.Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male rats were divided into threeexperimental groups: ESM guidance channel, autograft, and sham surgery. Thedecalcifying membrane of egg rotated over the Teflon mandrel and dried at37°C. A 10 mm nerve segment of left sciatic nerve was cut and removed. InESM group, the ends of the sciatic nerve were telescoped into the nerve guides.In autograft group, the nerve segment was reversed and used as an autologousnerve graft. At 90 days after surgery, all animals were evaluated by histologicaland immunohistochemical assessment.Results: The diameters of regenerated myelinated fibers were 5.24±2.14 μmfor the ESM group, and 5.89±2.99 μm for the autograft group. The number ofmyelinated axons regenerated in the ESM group (9824±218 nerve fibers) wassignificantly greater than autograft group (7865±314 nerve fibers) (p<0.05).Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that ESM effectively enhances nerveregeneration in injured rat sciatic nerve.

Keywords:

Nerve Regeneration , Nerve Fibers , Myelinated , Rats