Effect of amniotic membrane on peripheral nerve regeneration using the nerve wrap technique: A rat model study
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| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | Peripheral nerve injuries significantly impact patients‘ quality of life due to the typically slow and often incomplete process of nerve regeneration, resulting in impaired action potential transmission to the neuromuscular junction and reduced muscle function. Despite advances in our understanding of nerve physiology and regeneration, current surgical techniques remain limited, allowing reconstruction at the fascicular but not the axonal level. This study focuses on the application of the Nerve Wrap technique in peripheral nerve reconstruction in rats. The method involves wrapping the suture site of the sciatic nerve with a biological membrane, aiming to enhance nerve regeneration, prevent adhesions of surrounding tissues, and reduce neuroma formation. We evaluated the effectiveness of human amniotic membrane, in both lyophilized (ALM) and cryopreserved (AMM) forms, compared to a commercially available (CM) nerve wrap product, a nerve reconstruction without membrane (CO), and a nerve transection (SNT). All animals survive for three weeks. Behavioral tests were performed during the specified survival period. Mechanoallodynia was measured. The regenerative response was assessed by monitoring the activation of satellite glial cells (as indicated by GFAP), the upregulation of GAP43, a growth-associated protein involved inaxonal regeneration, and the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in dorsal root ganglia (DRG), including its co-localization with GFAP and NeuN. We observed higher activation of satellite glial cells (SGCs) following amniotic membrane application compared to the CM, CO, and SNT groups. Also, higher levels of IL-6 and GAP43 immunoreactivity were detected in the amniotic membrane groups. Our results suggest that the use of amniotic membrane positively modulates the local microenvironment and supports functional nerve regeneration more effectively than the commercial membrane and control groups. |