Favorable effect of local VEGF gene injection on axonal regeneration in the rat sciatic nerve

Abstract

This study is to investigate the effect of local phVEGF₁₆₅ injection on sciatic nerve regeneration in the rats and to search for a new way in the further treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. Forty-five adult male Wistar rats received a neurotomy to bilateral sciatic nerves, which were subsequently reconnected with 10/0 epineurial nylon sutures. The injured segments was locally injected with normal saline (group A), or 25 μg of phVEGF₁₆₅ (group B) or 50 μg phVEGF₁₆₅ (group C). Nerve conduction and regeneration were evaluated in terms of the histological changes, weight of gastrocnemius muscles, electrophysiology and morphometric results. Our study demonstrated that rats of group C showed the best results in terms of nerve regeneration, followed by group B and group A. Our findings suggested that local injection of phVEGF165 can facilitate nerve regeneration and promote functional recovery in a dose-dependent manner.

Keywords

phVEGF₁₆₅ / vascular endothelial growth factor / nerve regeneration

References

[1] LeungD. W., CachianesG., KuangW. J., et al.. Vascular endothelial growth factor is a secreted angiogenic mitogen. Science, 1989, 246: 1306-1309

[2] JinK., ZhuY., SunY., et al.. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulates neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2002, 99: 11946-11950

[3] HsiehP. S., BochinskiD. J., LinG. T., et al.. The effect of vascular endothelial growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor on cavernosal nerve regeneration in a nerve-crush rat model. BJU Int, 2003, 92: 470-475

[4] JinK. L., MaoX. O., GreenbergD. A.. Vascular endothelial growth factor rescues HN33 neural cells from death in-duced by serum withdrawal. J Mol Neurosci, 2000, 14: 197-203

[5] LinG., ChenK. C., HsiehP. S., et al.. Neurotrophic effects of vascular endothelial growth factor and neurotrophins on cultured major pelvic ganglia. BJU Int, 2003, 92: 631-635

[6] SondellM., LundborgG., KanjeM.. Vascular endothelial growth factor stimulates Schwann cell invasion and neovascularization of acellular nerve grafts. Brain Res., 1999, 6: 219-228

[7] HobsonM. I.. Increased vascularisation enhances axonal regeneration within an acellular nerve conduit. Ann R Coll Surg Engl, 2002, 84: 47-53

[8] SondellM., KanjeM.. Postnatal expression of VEGF and its receptor flk-1 in peripheral ganglia. Neuroreport, 2001, 12: 105-108