In vivo effects of adipose-derived stem cells in inducing neuronal regeneration in Sprague-Dawley rats undergoing nerve defect bridged with polycaprolactone nanotubes

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science Vol. 29 Suppl 3; no. Suppl 3; pp. S183 - S192
• Main Authors: Kim, Dong-Yeon, Choi, Yong-Seong, Kim, Sung-Eun, Lee, Jung-Ho, Kim, Sue-Min, Kim, Young-Jin, Rhie, Jong-Won, Jun, Young-Joon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 01.11.2014
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - cytology; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Electromyography; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Male; Nanotubes; Nerve Regeneration; Nerve Tissue Proteins - immunology; Nestin - immunology; Neural Conduction - physiology; Original; Peripheral Nerve Injuries - surgery; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases - immunology; Polyesters - therapeutic use; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sciatic Nerve - injuries; Sciatic Nerve - surgery; Stem Cell Transplantation - methods; Stem Cells - cytology; Tissue Engineering - methods; Stem Cells; Regeneration; Peripheral Nerves; Matrix Attachment Regions; Nanotubes; Adipose Tissue; Polycaprolactone
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2014.29.S3.S183

There have been many attempts for regeneration of peripheral nerve injury. In this study, we examined the in vivo effects of non-differentiated and neuronal differentiated adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in inducing the neuronal regeneration in the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats undergoing nerve defect bridged with the PCL nanotubes. Then, we performed immunohistochemical and histopathologic examinations, as well as the electromyography, in three groups: the control group (14 sciatic nerves transplanted with the PCL nanotube scaffold), the experimental group I (14 sciatic nerves with the non-differentiated ADSCs at a density of 7×10(5) cells/0.1 mL) and the experimental group II (14 sciatic nerves with the neuronal differentiated ADSCs at 7×10(5) cells/0.1 mL). Six weeks postoperatively, the degree of the neuronal induction and that of immunoreactivity to nestin, MAP-2 and GFAP was significantly higher in the experimental group I and II as compared with the control group. In addition, the nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was significantly higher in the experimental group I and II as compared with the control group (P=0.021 and P=0.020, respectively). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the NCV between the two experimental groups (P>0.05). Thus, our results will contribute to treating patients with peripheral nerve defects using PCL nanotubes with ADSCs.