Controlled delivery of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor enhances motor nerve regeneration.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To determine the effect of a motor-specific neurotrophic factor, glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on motor nerve regeneration.

METHODS:

We used a nerve conduit filled with a fibrin-based delivery system that provided controlled release of GDNF during nerve regeneration. The motor branch of the rat femoral nerve was used to assess motor nerve regeneration across a 5-mm gap. Four experimental groups (n = 4 to n = 8) were evaluated. These included GDNF with the fibrin-based delivery system (GDNF-DS), fibrin alone, empty conduit (negative control), and nerve isograft (positive control). Nerves were harvested at 5 weeks for analysis by histomorphometry and electron microscopy.

RESULTS:

At 5 mm distal to the conduit or isografts, the GDNF-DS group was not significantly different from the nerve isograft group in the following histomorphometric measures: total nerve fibers, percentage of neural tissue, and nerve density. Both the GDNF-DS and isograft groups had significantly more fibers and a higher percentage of neural tissue than fibrin alone and empty conduit groups. There were no differences in fiber width among all groups. By electron microscopy, the GDNF-DS and isograft groups also demonstrated more organized nerve architecture than the fibrin alone and empty conduit groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

The delivery of GDNF from the fibrin-based delivery system promotes motor nerve regeneration at a level similar to an isograft in the femoral motor nerve model. This study gives insight into the potential beneficial role of GDNF in the treatment of motor nerve injuries.

• Authors: Amy M Moore, Matthew D Wood, Kristopher Chenard, Daniel A Hunter, Susan E Mackinnon, Shelly E Sakiyama-Elbert, Gregory H Borschel
• Journal: The Journal of hand surgery (J Hand Surg Am) Vol. 35 Issue 12 Pg. 2008-17 (Dec 2010) ISSN: 1531-6564 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21035963 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Chemical References

• Biocompatible Materials
• Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Topics

• Animals
• Biocompatible Materials
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Femoral Nerve (anatomy & histology, physiology)
• Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (administration & dosage, physiology)
• Male
• Nerve Regeneration (physiology)
• Peripheral Nerve Injuries
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Lew
• Tissue Engineering