Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2016, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (3): 508-511.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.179075

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Verapamil inhibits scar formation after peripheral nerve repair in vivo

A-chao Han 1, Jing-xiu Deng 2, Qi-shun Huang 1, Huai-yuan Zheng 1, Pan Zhou 1, Zhi-wei Liu 1, Zhen-bing Chen 1   

  1. 1 Department of Hand Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
    2 457 Hospital of PLA, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
  • Received:2015-11-18 Online:2016-03-15 Published:2016-03-15
  • Contact: Qi-shun Huang, M.D.,hqsw@hotmail.com.
  • Supported by:

    This research was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China, No. 2011CDB392.

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Abstract:

The calcium channel blocker, verapamil, has been shown to reduce scar formation by inhibiting fibroblast adhesion and proliferation in vitro. It was not clear whether topical application of verapamil after surgical repair of the nerve in vivo could inhibit the formation of excessive scar tissue. In this study, the right sciatic nerve of adult Sprague-Dawley rats was transected and sutured with No. 10-0 suture. The stoma was wrapped with gelfoam soaked with verapamil solution for 4 weeks. Compared with the control group (stoma wrapped with gelfoam soaked with physiological saline), the verapamil application inhibited the secretion of extracellular matrix from fibroblasts in vivo, suppressed type I and III collagen secretion and increased the total number of axons and the number of myelinated axons. These findings suggest that verapamil could reduce the formation of scar tissue and promote axon growth after peripheral nerve repair.

Key words: nerve regeneration, nerve injury, verapamil, scar, sciatic nerve, type I collagen, type III collagen, neural regeneration