ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of electrospun chitosan/polylactic acid (ch/PLA) nerve conduit for repairing peripheral nerve defect in rats. MethodsNerve conducts loaded with ch/PLA was made by the way of electrospun. The mechanical property, hydrophility, biocompatibility were tested, and the scanning electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructure. The same experiments were also performed on pure PLA nerve conducts as a comparison. Then, 54 Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups randomly, 18 rats in each group. Firstly, the 10 mm defects in the right sciatic nerves were made in the rats and were respectively repaired with ch/PLA (group A), autografts (group B), and no implant (group C). At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation, general observations, sciatic functional index (SFI), electrophysiological evaluation, wet weight of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, histological examination, immunohistological analysis, and transmission electron microscopy were performed to evaluate the effects. ResultsCompared with pure PLA nerve conducts, the addition of chitosan could improve the mechanical property, hydrophility, biocompatibility, and ultrastructure of the nerve conducts. At 4 weeks postoperatively, the regenerated nerve bridged the nerve defect in group A. The SFI improved gradually in both group A and group B, showing no significant difference (P>0.05). Compound muscle action potentials and nerve conduction velocity could be detected in both group A and group B at 8 and 12 weeks after operation, and significant improvements were shown in both groups (P<0.05). The wet weight and myocyte cross section of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles showed no significant difference between group A and group B (P>0.05), but there was significant difference when compared with group C (P<0.05) at 12 weeks postoperatively. Immunohistological analysis revealed that S-100 positive Schwann cells migrated in both group A and group B, and axon also regenerated by immunohistological staining for growth associated protein 43 and neurofilaments 160. Transmission electron microscopy showed no significant difference in the diameter of nerve fiber between group A and group B (P>0.05), but the thickness of myelin sheath in group A was significantly larger than that in group B (P<0.05). ConclusionThe electrospun ch/PLA nerve conduits can effectively promote the peripheral nerve regeneration, and may promise an alternative to nerve autograft for repairing peripheral nerve defect.