Pathologic changes in different conditions of nerve and skeletal muscle after sciatic nerve allograft in rats

Objective: To study the effects of different conditions on nerve and skeletal muscle after sciatic nerve allograft in rats.Methods: Thirty-two rats were equally divided into two groups,groups A and B,at random.In each animal,bilateral 10mm sciatic nerve defects was made,and left sciatic nerve was bridged with fresh nerve allograft and the right side with nerve allograft frozen in liquid nitrogen.The rats in the group B were given cyclosporine A.Eight weeks after operation,the allografted nerve and musculus tibialis anterior were pathologically examined.Results: Nerve regeneration and the skeletal muscle recovery in fresh allograft without immunosupression was the poorest among these groups,but the best in fresh allograft under immunosupression with CSA.Nerve regeneration in frozen nerve allograft with CSA was better than that without CSA.Conclusion: Immunosupression is helpful to suppress the rejection of nerve allograft and improve the peripheral nerve regeneration and skeletal muscle recovery.