Revascularization of peripheral nerve autografts and allografts

• Published in: Plastic and reconstructive surgery (1963) Vol. 104; no. 1; p. 152
• Main Authors: Best, T J, Mackinnon, S E, Midha, R, Hunter, D A, Evans, P J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.1999
• Subjects: Animals; Dimethylpolysiloxanes; Male; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Rats, Inbred WF; Sciatic Nerve - blood supply; Sciatic Nerve - transplantation; Silicones; Transplantation, Autologous; Transplantation, Homologous
• ISSN: 0032-1052
• DOI: 10.1097/00006534-199907000-00022

The timing and mechanisms of peripheral nerve revascularization were investigated using a 2-cm sciatic nerve graft model in 58 rats. Epineurial perfusion was consistently established by 48 hours and endoneurial perfusion by 72 hours. The pattern of endoneurial perfusion was "all-or-none"--either all or none of the vessels in a fascicle exhibited blood flow. Conventional allografts exhibited similar revascularization dynamics and patterns. Capping the ends of the autograft with Silastic significantly delayed revascularization; no flow was observed at 4 days, and only a peripheral rim of perfused fascicular vessels was observed at 7 days. These patterns suggested that the primary method of revascularization in the conventional graft was longitudinal inosculation; no evidence of peripheral neovascularization or dependence on the graft bed as a source of revascularization was observed. The introduction of a major histocompatibility complex barrier between the grafted tissue and the recipient animal did not alter the timing or the mechanics of blood flow reestablishment.