Відновлення функції сідничного нерва з використанням засобів тканинної інженерії після його повного перетину в експерименті

Background. The incidence of peripheral nerve injuries is 0.3–0.5 per 10,000 in general population, 60–75 % of them are accompanied by invalidisation of the patient. The most promising way to solve the problem of restoring peripheral nerves is tissue engineering using biopolymers and stem cells, in particular neural crest derived multipotent stem cells. The aim of the study was to investigate the function of the sciatic nerve with the use of tissue engineering after its complete intersection in the experiment. Materials and methods. Four experimental groups were formed: group 1 — sciatic nerve transection (neurotomy) and immediate autoneuroplasty (n = 14); group 2 — neurotomy and immediate plasty with collagen tube filled with fibrin gel (n = 15); group 3 — neurotomy and immediate plasty with collagen tube filled with fibrin gel containing neural crest derived multipotent stem cells (n = 16); group 4 — sham operated animals (n = 7). Results. In groups 1 and 3, the dynamics of sciatic functional index (SFI) was characterized by two phases. The first phase included a practically linear increase in values, from –70 on day 7 of observation to –35 by the end of week 4. The second phase lasted for weeks 6–7 and 5–7 in groups 1 and 3, respectively, and was characterized by a lack of changes in the value of SFI. In group 2, there was a phase of absence of increment of the indicator during week 2 of observation. Subsequently, during week 3–4, there was a significant increase in the indicator (p  0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05; Mann-Whitney U test) between groups 1 and 2, as well as groups 2 and 3, in favor of groups 1 and 3, respectively, ranged starting from day 14 and to the end of experiment. Compared with the results of testing animals in group 4, the indicators of groups 1, 2, and 3 turned out to be significantly (p < 0.05; Mann-Whitney U test) less during the whole period of the experiment. Conclusions. Plasty of the peripheral nerve defect by a NeuraGenTM tubular implant filled with fibrin gel containing multipotent neural crest derived stem cells, in terms of restoring the muscular-articular apparatus of the paretic limb, is equivalent to classical autoneuroplasty. The duration of the period of regenerative growth of the traumatic nerve fibers until the initiation of the restoration of paretic limb function substantially depends on the tissue environment in the area of the traumatic defect. The duration of active restoration of the function of the paretic limb in this type of the trauma is limited to the first month, not dependent on the specificity of tissue processes in the area of nerve defect plasty.