Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2016, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (3): 512-518.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.179078

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Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein enhances the vascularization of acellular nerves

Wei-ling Cui 1, Long-hai Qiu 2, Jia-yan Lian 1, Jia-chun Li 2, Jun Hu , Xiao-lin Liu 2   

  1. 1 Department of Endocrinology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
    2 Department of Orthopaedics and Microsurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2015-12-22 Online:2016-03-15 Published:2016-03-15
  • Contact: Jun Hu, Ph.D.,hjhjun@163.com.
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by the Specialized Research Fund for Science and Technology Plan of Guangdong Province in China, No. 201313060300007; the National High-Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program), No. 2012AA020507; the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program), No. 2014CB542201; the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China, No. 20120171120075; and Doctoral Start-up Project of the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province in China, No. S201204006336 and 1045100890100590.

Abstract:

Vascularization of acellular nerves has been shown to contribute to nerve bridging. In this study, we used a 10-mm sciatic nerve defect model in rats to determine whether cartilage oligomeric matrix protein enhances the vascularization of injured acellular nerves. The rat nerve defects were treated with acellular nerve grafting (control group) alone or acellular nerve grafting combined with intraperitoneal injection of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (experimental group). As shown through two-dimensional imaging, the vessels began to invade into the acellular nerve graft from both anastomotic ends at day 7 post-operation, and gradually covered the entire graft at day 21. The vascular density, vascular area, and the velocity of revascularization in the experimental group were all higher than those in the control group. These results indicate that cartilage oligomeric matrix protein enhances the vascularization of acellular nerves.

Key words: nerve regeneration, peripheral nerve injuries, acellular nerves, radiography, nerve repair, nerve tissue engineering, two-dimensional evaluation, vascularized models, angiogenesis, neural regeneration