Objective To observe the result of reconstructing quadriceps femoris function in the paraplegia rats by using the 7th cervical nerve root (C7) transposition with autologous and allogeneic neural transplantation. Methods Twenty16-week-old SPF male Wistar rats were adopted to prepare frozen sciatic nerve. Thirty-six Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups (group A and group B, n=18). The left paraplegia model was establ ished with left spinal cord hemisection by the micro scissors under the operation microscope. After the model establ ishment, the homolateral autologous sciatic nerve was bridged with the femoral nerve root by the translocation of C7 in group A, while the allogeneic sciatic nerve was bridged with the femoral nerve root by the translocation of C7 in group B. At 16 weeks and 24 weeks after operation, 9 rats in each group were selected for the neuroelectric-physiological test and then the histomorphology of the nerves was observed under the microscope and the electron microscope. The fresh weight recovery rate of quadriceps femoris was calculated. Results At 16 and 24 weeks after operation, the nerve action-evoked potential (NAP) was (1.14 ± 0.07) mV and (1.21 ± 0.07) mV in group A, and (0.87 ± 0.06) mV and (0.99 ± 0.05) mV in group B; the nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was (17.34 ± 2.15) m/s and (19.00 ± 3.02) m/s in group A, and (11.23 ± 1.45) m/s and (12.54 ± 1.59) m/s in group B, respectively, indicating significant differences (P lt; 0.05) between 2 groups. At 16 and 24 weeks after operation, HE staining and Bielschowsky staining showed that group A had a large number of nerve fiber regeneration, with a regular arrange of axons; while group B had l ittle nerve fiber regeneration with a scattered arrange of axons. At 24 weeks after operation, images in TEM showed a large number of regeneration myel inated nerve fibers and a small number of unmyel inated nerve fibers through the transplanted nerve in two groups. At 16 weeks after operation, the number of myel inated nerve fibers in group A and group B was (438 ± 79) and (196 ± 31) / vision, the areas of myel inated nerve fiberswere (5 596.00 ± 583.94) and (4 022.63 ± 615.75) μm2 / vision; after 24 weeks, the number of myel inated nerve fibers in groups A and B were (642 ± 64) and (321 ± 75)/vision, the areas of myel inated nerve fibers were (6 689.50 ± 1 142.10) and ( 4 733.00 ± 982.22) μm2/vision, indicating significant differences between two groups (P lt; 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference (P gt; 0.05) in the wet weight recovery rate of quadriceps between group A and group B at 16 weeks (87.96% ± 4.93% vs. 86.47% ± 7.47%) and at 24 weeks after operation (90.10% ± 4.22% vs. 87.66% ± 3.14%). Conclusion C7 transposition combined with autograft and allograft of sciatic nerve can reconstruct the partial function of the quadriceps femoris in paraplegia rats. The effect of graft is better than that of graft obviously.
Objective To investigate the feasibility of the anastomosis of the anterior branch of obturator nerve and the muscular branch of femoral nerve. Methods Five fresh frozen cadavers, including 3 males and 2 females, were included. Both of the obturator nerve, femoral nerve and their branches were dissected, then their routes and anatomical positions were observed. The diameter and the number of myelinated nerve fiber of the anterior branch of obturator nerve and femoral nerve muscular branches were measured, as well as the overlap distance between them. Results The diameter of myelinated nerve fiber of the anterior branch of obturator nerve was (3.80±1.22) mm; the number of myelinated nerve fiber was 11 358±800. The diameters of the rectus femoris branch and the medial femoral branch were (1.60±0.54) mm and (2.20±0.66) mm, respectively; the number of myelinated nerve fiber were 4 961±655 and 6 666±466. Both the diameter and number of myelinated nerve fiber were close to the anterior branch of obturator nerve. The anterior branch of obturator nerve could be directly anastomosed with each nerve branch of femoral nerve in nontension, and the overlap distance was about 30 mm. Conclusion It is feasible to repair the femoral nerve by transposed the anterior branch of obturator nerve and anastomosed with the femoral nerve muscular branches. And the rectus femoris branch and the medial femoral branch should be taken as the recipient nerve.