J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2015 Dec;58(6):504-507. 10.3340/jkns.2015.58.6.504.

Histopathological Effects of Tissue Adhesives on Experimental Peripheral Nerve Transection Model in Rats

• Altun I
• Ciralik H

• KMID: 2151150
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2015.58.6.504

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to evaluate the histopathological effects of tissue adhesives on peripheral nerve regeneration after experimental sciatic nerve transection in rats and to search whether these tissue adhesives may possess a therapeutic potential in peripheral nerve injuries.
METHODS
This experimental study was performed using 42 female Wistar-Albino rats distributed in 6 groups subsequent to transection of right sciatic nerves. Group I underwent external circumferential neurolysis; Group II received suture repair; Group III had local polymeric hydrogel based tissue adhesive administration; Group IV received suture repair and polymeric hydrogel based tissue adhesive application together; Group V had gelatin based tissue adhesive application and Group VI had suture repair and gelatin based tissue adhesive together. After a 6-week follow-up period, biopsies were obtained from site of neural injury and groups were compared with respect to histopathological scoring based on inflammatory, degenerative, necrotic and fibrotic changes.
RESULTS
There were remarkable differences between control group and study groups with respect to inflammation (p=0.001), degeneration (p=0.002), necrosis (p=0.007), fibrosis (p<0.001) and vascularity (p=0.001). Histopathological scores were similar between study groups and the only noteworthy difference was that Group V displayed a lower score for necrosis and higher score in terms of vascularization.
CONCLUSION
Our results imply that tissue adhesives can be useful in repair of peripheral nerve injuries by decreasing the surgical trauma and shortening the duration of intervention. Results with gelatin based tissue adhesive are especially promising since more intense vascularity was observed in tissue after application. However, trials on larger series with longer durations of follow-up are essential for reaching more reliable conclusions.

Keyword

Peripheral nerve; Injury; Regeneration; Sciatic nerve; Tissue adhesive

MeSH Terms

Animals
Biopsy
Female
Fibrosis
Follow-Up Studies
Gelatin
Humans
Hydrogel
Inflammation
Necrosis
Peripheral Nerve Injuries
Peripheral Nerves*
Polymers
Rats*
Regeneration
Sciatic Nerve
Sutures
Tissue Adhesives*
Gelatin
Hydrogel
Polymers
Tissue Adhesives