J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2001 Dec;36(6):631-640.

Effects of bFGF on the Regeneration of Non-vascularized and Vascularized Nerve Graft in Rats

• Jeong CH
• Kim HM
• Ok IY
• Song SW
• Kim YS
• Lee KH
• Kwon JH

Abstract

PURPOSE
This paper compares the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the regeneration process in non-vascularized nerve grafts and vascularized nerve grafts in the case of poor recipient bed condition.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
One hundred and six Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups; CNG (Conventional nerve graft, n=25), CNG-F (Conventional nerve graft treated with bFGF, n=27), VNG (Vascularized nerve graft, n=25), and VNG-F (Vascularized nerve graft treated with bFGF, n=29). Each type of nerve graft was 6 mm in length, and inserted into a silicone tube, to prevent revascularization from the recipient bed. The bFGF solution (10 L, 400 ng/mL) was injected into the silicone tube in the CNG-F and VNG-F groups, and collagen solution (10 L, 2.4 mg/mL) was injected in the CNG and VNG groups.
RESULTS
The latency period delay decreased and the amplitude of motor action potential, the number of myelinated axons, and the number of large myelinated axons (over 5 m in diameter) increased significantly in the CNG-F group versus the CNG group 4 weeks after the operation. The amplitude of the motor action potential, the mean diameter, the number of myelinated axons, and the number of large myelinated axons increased significantly in the VNG-F group versus the CNG-F and the VNG groups 2 and 4 weeks after the operation.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that vascularized nerve graft treated with bFGF is one of the best ways of repairing the segmental peripheral nerve defect.

Keyword

Vascularized nerve graft; bFGF

MeSH Terms

Action Potentials
Animals
Axons
Collagen
Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
Latency Period (Psychology)
Myelin Sheath
Peripheral Nerves
Rats*
Rats, Wistar
Regeneration*
Silicones
Transplants*
Collagen
Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
Silicones