Neuregulin-1 released by biodegradable gelatin hydrogels can accelerate facial nerve regeneration and functional recovery of traumatic facial nerve palsy

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• 作者：Go Yasui ; Yuhei Yamamoto ; Ryuji Shichinohe ; Emi Funayama ; Akihiko Oyama ; Toshihiko Hayashi ; Hiroshi Furukawa ; ^{hfuru@med.hokudai.ac.jp" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author}
• 关键词：Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) ; Facial nerve regeneration ; Biodegradable gelatin hydrogels ; Facial palsy scores ; Tracer study ; Toluidine blue
• 刊名：Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：March 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：69
• 期：3
• 页码：328-334
• 全文大小：1342 K

文摘

Neuregulin-1 is an essential axoglial signal required for peripheral nerve development, and evidence that neuregulin-1 is also required for effective nerve repair is growing. In this study, the effects of neuregulin-1-impregnated gelatin hydrogels on nerve regeneration and functional recovery after anastomosis of the facial nerve were investigated in a rat model of traumatic facial nerve paralysis.

Materials and methods

Twenty-four adult male rats underwent complete resection of the facial nerve trunk, followed by end-to-end anastomosis with epineural sutures. The animals were then randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups (eight rats/group): no additional intervention (Group I), single-shot injection of neuregulin-1 into the epineurium of the facial nerve at the suture sites (Group II), or implantation of a hydrogel impregnated with neuregulin-1 at the injury site (Group III). After surgery, mimetic muscle movements were evaluated weekly. Eight weeks after surgery, the mimetic muscles were injected with a neural tracer (1,10-dioctadecyl-3,3,30,30-tetramethylindocarbocyanin perchlorate, DiI). Retrograde-labeled neurons were counted in the facial nuclei, and facial nerve specimens were stained with toluidine blue for histological examination of axon density.

Results

Group III exhibited significantly faster recovery of mimetic muscle function, a higher density of large-diameter axons (>5 μm) in the facial nerve, and greater numbers of retrogradely labeled neurons in the ipsilateral facial nucleus compared with Groups I and II.

Conclusions

Continuous release of neuregulin-1 from impregnated gelatin hydrogels can accelerate facial nerve regeneration.