Repair of Long Nerve Defects with a New Decellularized Nerve Graft in Rats and in Sheep

Cells. 2022 Dec 16;11(24):4074. doi: 10.3390/cells11244074.

Abstract

Decellularized nerve allografts (DC) are an alternative to autografts (AG) for repairing severe peripheral nerve injuries. We have assessed a new DC provided by VERIGRAFT. The decellularization procedure completely removed cellularity while preserving the extracellular matrix. We first assessed the DC in a 15 mm gap in the sciatic nerve of rats, showing slightly delayed but effective regeneration. Then, we assayed the DC in a 70 mm gap in the peroneal nerve of sheep compared with AG. Evaluation of nerve regeneration and functional recovery was performed by clinical, electrophysiology and ultrasound tests. No significant differences were found in functional recovery between groups of sheep. Histology showed a preserved fascicular structure in the AG while in the DC grafts regenerated axons were grouped in small units. In conclusion, the DC was permissive for axonal regeneration and allowed to repair a 70 mm long gap in the sheep nerve.

Keywords: allograft; autograft; decellularization; nerve regeneration; sheep.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autografts / transplantation
  • Nerve Regeneration / physiology
  • Nerve Tissue*
  • Rats
  • Sciatic Nerve* / pathology
  • Sheep
  • Transplantation, Autologous / methods
  • Transplantation, Homologous / methods

Grants and funding

This study was funded by Project E10668 eBIONERVE from EUREKA, and partially supported by project SAF2017-84464R from Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades of Spain, CIBERNED (CB06/05/1105), and TERAV RICORS (RD21/0017/008) funds from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III of Spain, co-funded by European Union (NextGenerationEU, Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan).