Descriptive Histology of Different Types of Nerve Grafts in Rabbits

Abstract

This  work  was  designed  to  evaluate  and  compare histologically between various types of nerve grafts; autograft, collagen tubes (natural polymers), and a cellular epineurial nerves  sheaths  (biological  canduits),  included  a  cellular rabbits nerve graft and a cellular rat nerve graft. 
Forty local breaded rabbits were used and divided into four groups, and then subdivided into two subgroups (a total of 8 subgroups). Each subgroup contained five rabbits. Two times were used for animal scarifying and that were 45 days and 3 months post operation. All animals were undergone surgical operation on the sight thigh and sciatic nerve was sectioned at the mid thigh region. Segments of 8-10mm were sectioned and the gap was replaced with previous graft types. All  rabbits  were  kept  survive  to  the  end  of  experiments. Comparison was made between the right (experimental) and left  (control)  sides.  Samples  were  taken  from  proximal, middle, and distal stumps to evaluate the regeneration process. 
All   tissue   samples   were   examined   under   light microscope.  The  histological  results  clarify  an  increase  in amounts   of   fibrous   tissues   whether   intrafascicular   or extrafascicular.  Also,  there  was  an  increase  in  epineurium thickness in the distal segments for both periods. A significant diameters decrease of nerve fibers of all experimental groups of  both  periods  was  observed  compared  to  the  control.  A significant reduction in myelin thickness in the proximal and distal stamps was also obvious.