Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2016, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (5): 534-539.doi: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2016.05.012

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Changes of motor neurons in spinal cord anterior horn after peripheral nerve graft repair in rat

KAN Shi-lian 1, LI Gui-shi 2, ZHAN Hai-hua 1,ZHANG Jian-bing 1,MA Ning1,LI Ming-xin3,ZHAO Jia-guo3   

  1. 1. Department of Hand and Microsurgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin 300211, China;2. Department of Joint Surgery,Yuhuangding Hospital of Yantai, Yantai 264000,China; 3. Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin 300211, China
  • Received:2016-06-12 Online:2016-09-25 Published:2016-10-14

Abstract:

Objective To observe morphologic and functional changes of motor neurons of spinal cord horn in the rat transplanted nerve model, and to provide theoretical foundation for the distal anastomostic re-suture of theperipheral transplanted nerve.    Methods    120 SD rats were randomly divided into six groups respectively: a pure nerve transection (group 1); a suture after nerve transection (group 2); a nerve graft repair after nerve transaction (group 3); a distal anastomosis resection after free nerve graft repair (group 4); a re-suture of distal anastomosis resection after free nerve graft repair (group 5); a sham operation (group 6). The lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord were removed to detect histological changes at 1st week, 2nd week, 4th week, 8th week, 12th week, 16th week, respectively. Pathologic changes of white and gray matter in each group were observed using a light microscope at each postoperative time point. And the expression of various neurotrophic factor receptors in the anterior motor horn of the spinal cord was observed using immunohistochemistry.    Results    Experimental group showed cytoplasmic edema, mitochondrial swelling, and vacuolization at postoperative 1st week. And the changes of neuronal ultrastructure significantly increased at 2nd to 4th week. Electron microscope images suggested the damaged neurons had been into the recovery period at 4th to 8th week. Group 3 showed the increase of BDNF expression in motor neurons at 1st week, reaching a peak at 2nd week, and declining at 8th week. NGF expression increased at 2nd week, reaching a peak at 8td week, and declining at 8th week. BDNF expression gradually increased at 8th to 16th week in group 5. NGF Expression maintained a steady state after 8th week, without a downward trend. the control group did not showed significant changes at each time.    Conclusions Re-suture of distal anastomosis resection after long nerve graft repair can promote the recovery of neurological function at a proper time, because it removes the distal anastomotic scar and activates the endocrinic state of the neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord.

Key words: Peripheral nerve injury, Motor neurons, Apoptosis, Repair and regeneration, BDNF, NGF