Research of the effects of stem cells on nerve regeneration in peripheral nerve damage and rupture in rats

Stem cell therapy is a potential treatment method for peripheral nerve injuries that cannot be treated surgically or medically. In this study was aimed to investigate the effects of stem cells on healing in sciatic nerve damage and ruptures in an experimental rat model. In the study, 56 winstar albino female rats, weighing approximately 250gr and aged 2 months, were used. Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 14 rats in each group. Rats were placed under general anesthesia. A 2 cm long incision was made just above the gluteal muscles in the dorsal left hind leg. The gluteal muscles will be divided bluntly and the sciatic nerve has been reached. In the 1st and 2nd groups, damage was created by squeezing the sciatic nerve for 1 minute with the help of hemostatic forceps, and a full-fold rupture was created in the sciatic nerve in the 3rd and 4th. After suturing the epineurium of the cut sciatic nerve, subparaneural 2.5 x105 stem cells were injected into the epineurium of the 1st and 3rd group rats. The wounds were closed with simple separate sutures. Daily observations of the rats were made postoperatively. In addition, grasping test and step-track tests were applied for 8 weeks at 15-day intervals. Hot plate test and EMG test were performed in the last week. While there were statistically significant differences in the stem cell applied groups compared to the control groups, it was determined that the damaged stem cell group in the postoperative tests showed a statistically significant difference from the other groups. In the histopathological evaluation of the lesioned nerve tissues of the rats, which were euthanized after 8 weeks postoperatively, significant differences were observed between the stem cell applied groups and the control groups. As a result, bone-derived mesenchymal stem cell application has a positive effect on peripheral nerve repair (according to motor function and histological evaluation). Keywords: Sciatic Nerve, Stem Cell, Degeneration, Rat