Effect of Acellular Nerve Xenograft in a Rat Sciatic Nerve Injury Model

Background and Aim : Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) affect a large proportion of the global population, often causing significant morbidity and loss of function. The current gold standard for the treatment of PNI is the autograft, which poses some disadvantages. Allografts have therefore become a valid alternative option. In particular, acellular nerve allografts (ANAs) rather than fresh allografts do not need immunosuppression and appear to be safe and effective based on recent studies. However, the source of the allogeneic donor is restricted in clinical treatment. To explore sufficient substitutes for acellular nerve allografts (ANA), we investigated the effectiveness of acellular nerve xenografts (ANX) on repairing PNIs. On the other hand, no standard chemical decellularization method that is widely accepted exists to date. The objective of this study was to propose a modified chemical protocol of nerve decellularization.Methods : The acellular nerves derived from bovine were prepared by the modified protocol. After decellularization, efficiency of protocol was tested in vitro by conventional staining, immunohistochemistry, and biochemical assays. Furthermore, a pilot in vivo study was performed; all the grafts were employed to bridge 7 mm rat sciatic nerve gaps. After eight weeks of transplantation, electrophysiological and functional tests were performed and the regenerated nerves were assayed morphologically.Results : The decellularization method proved to be effective in vitro; the treatment removed axons, myelin, and cells, without altering nerve architecture. The in vivo study did not reveal any adverse effects. The functional analysis showed no statistical differences after 8 weeks in the sciatic functional index (SFI) in the autograft group, compared to the xenograft.The morphological analysis showed regenerated fascicles and bundles, and Schwann cells in xenograft were comparable with the autograft.Conclusion : Based on these results, this decellularization protocol offers a reliable and encouraging approach for repairing peripheral nerve defects and deserves deeper investigations with further preclinical and clinical studies.

Keywords:

sciatic nerve , bovine , detergent , Rat , xenograft , acellular scaffold