Prostaglandin E1 Combined with Chitosan Conduit Improves Sciatic Nerve Regeneration in Rats

Objective- To study local effect of prostaglandin E1on sciatic nerve regeneration Design- Experimental study Animals- Sixty male healthy white Wistar rats Procedures- Sixty animals were divided into four experimental groups (n = 15), randomly: Trasnsected (TC), Sham-operation (SHAM), control (CHIT) and prostaglandin E1treated (CHIT/PGE) groups. In SHAM group after anesthesia left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and after homeostasis muscle was sutured. In CHIT group the left sciatic nerve was exposed the same way and transected proximal to tibio-peroneal bifurcation leaving a 10-mm gap. Proximal and distal stumps were each inserted into a chitosan conduit and filled with 10 μL phosphate buffered solution. In CHIT/PGE group defect was bridged using a chitosan conduit filled with 10 μL PGE. Each group from four group was again subdivided into three subgroups of five animals each and were studied 4, 8, 12 weeks after surgery. Results- In all subgroups behavioral testing and sciatic nerve functional study confirmed faster and better recovery of regenerated axons in CHIT/PGE than in CHIT group (P < 0.05).Gastrocnemius muscle mass in CHIT/PGE was significantly more than in CHIT group. Morphometric indices of regenerated fibers showed number and diameter of the myelinated fibers in CHIT/PGE were significantly higher than in control group. In immuohistochemistry, location of reactions to S-100 in CHIT/PGE was clearly more positive than in CHIT group. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance- Response to local treatment of prostaglandin E1 demonstrates that it influences and improves functional recovery of peripheral nerve regeneration.