Introduction: Peripheral nerve regeneration over longer distances through conduits is limited. In the presented study, critical size nerve gap bridging with a poly-DL-lactide-ε-caprolactone (PLC) conduit was combined with application of C3 toxin to facilitate axonal sprouting.
Materials and methods: The PLC filled with fibrin (n = 10) and fibrin gel loaded with 1-μg C3-C2I and 2-μg C2II (n = 10) were compared to autologous nerve grafts (n = 10) in a 15-mm sciatic nerve gap lesion model of the rat. Functional and electrophysiological analyses were performed before histological evaluation.
Results: Evaluation of motor function and nerve conduction velocity at 16 weeks revealed no differences between the groups. All histological parameters and muscle weight were significantly elevated in nerve graft group. No differences were observed in both PLC groups.
Conclusions: The PLCs are permissive for nerve regeneration over a 15-mm defect in rats. Intraluminal application of C3 toxin did not lead to significant enhancement of nerve sprouting.