Peripheral nerve allografts: Survey of present state in an experimental model of the rat

✍ Scribed by Prof. Dr. Alfred Berger; Franz Lassner

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 568 KB
• Volume: 15
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0738-1085
• DOI: 10.1002/micr.1920151106

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Rejection and regeneration processes in peripheral nerve allografts are analyzed in this review of a series of experiments with special reference to the possible clinical application of peripheral nerve allografting in clinical reconstructive surgery. A long segment of the sciatic nerve (2.5 cm) was grafted between congenic rat strains across a maximal genetic barrier; immunohistologically, donor‐ and recipient‐derived structures can be differentiated. If allografting was performed without immunosuppression, a rejection response with consecutive regeneration of minor quality was observed. Under immunosuppression with cyclosporin A no rejection response was observed and regeneration quality was comparable to control autografts. The persistence of donorderived Schwann cells in the immunosuppressed allografts can be demonstrated immunohistologically. After discontinuation of immunosuppression a rejection response is exerted. We conclude that Schwann cells are eliminated from peripheral nerves during rejection. Consecutive regeneration of minor quality is possible, which implies the ingrowth of recipient‐derived Schwann cells into the rejected allograft. Under immunosuppression, allogenic Schwann cells survive and actively promote regeneration. They are still immunologically competent and can exert rejection when immunosuppression is discontinued. A certain degree of replacement of donorderived Schwann cells seems possible. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.