Cold preserved nerve allografts: Changes in basement membrane, viability, immunogenicity, and regeneration

P. J. Evans, S. E. Mackinnon, A. D.O. Levi, J. A. Wade, D. A. Hunter, Y. Nakao, R. Midha

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

114 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rat sciatic nerve graft segments were harvested and pretreated by either placement in the University of Wisconsin Cold Storage Solution at 5°C and storage from 1 to 26 weeks, or repeatedly freezing (-40°C) and thawing (20°C). Following pretreatment, grafts were transplanted as either syngeneic or allogeneic nerve grafts. Storage and freeze-thawing did not affect the Schwann cell basal lamina or laminin distribution of the peripheral nerve. Graft cell viability decreased with increasing time of storage, with some viable cells detectable even after 3 weeks of storage. Freeze-thawed grafts were not viable. Increasing time of storage led to decreasing immune response and graft rejection, but improved regeneration. Freeze-thawed and 26-week stored allografts were nonimmunogenic and rejection was not seen, but regeneration was delayed compared to autografts. Graft storage may become a useful adjunct to clinical nerve allografting to permit elective scheduling of surgery, provide greater time for preoperative tissue testing, and possibly blunt the immune response.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1507-1522
Number of pages16
JournalMuscle and Nerve
Volume21
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

Keywords

  • Antibody
  • Cytokines
  • Freeze thawing
  • Preservation
  • Schwann cell
  • University of Wisconsin Cold Storage Solution

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