Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2014, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (10): 1075-1078.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.133168

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Bridging peripheral nerves using a deacetyl chitin conduit combined with short-term electrical stimulation

Zhongli Zhang 1, Xin Li 2, Songjie Zuo 3, Jie Xin 1, Peixun Zhang 4   

  1. 1 Department of Traumatic Orthopedics, Weifang People’s Hospital, Weifang, Shandong Province, China
    2 Department of Physiology, Weifang Medical College, Weifang, Shandong Province, China
    3 National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
    4 Department of Trauma & Orthopedics, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
  • Received:2014-04-20 Online:2014-05-26 Published:2014-05-26
  • Contact: Peixun Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Trauma & Orthopedics, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China,zhangpeixun@bjmu.edu.cn.
  • Supported by:

    This study was funded by National Program on Key Basic Research Project of China (973 Program), No. 2014CB542200; the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 31171150, 31271284, 30801169; the Chinese Educational Ministry New Century Excellent Talent Support Project, No. BMU20110270; the Beijing City Science & Technology New Star Classification, No. 2008A010; and the Ministry of Education New Teachers of Institutions of Higher Learning Doctoral Fund, No. 20070001780.

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Abstract:

Previous studies have demonstrated that deacetyl chitin conduit nerve bridging or electrical stimulation can effectively promote the regeneration of the injured peripheral nerve. We hypothesized that the combination of these two approaches could result in enhanced regeneration. Rats with right sciatic nerve injury were subjected to deacetyl chitin conduit bridging combined with electrical stimulation (0.1 ms, 3 V, 20 Hz, for 1 hour). At 6 and 12 weeks after treatment, nerve conduction velocity, myelinated axon number, fiber diameter, axon diameter and the thickness of the myelin sheath in the stimulation group were better than in the non-stimulation group. The results indicate that deacetyl chitin conduit bridging combined with temporary electrical stimulation can promote peripheral nerve repair.

Key words: nerve regeneration, peripheral nerve injury, deacetyl chitin conduit, electrical stimulation, NSFC grant, neural regeneration