Promotion of nerve regeneration in peripheral nerve by exogenous epidermal growth factor after terminolateral neurorrhaphy: an experimental study

摘要

Objective To evaluate the effect of exogenous epidermal growth factor (EGF) on promoting nerve regeneration after terminolateral neurorrhaphy (TLN). Methods Thirty-two adult Wistar rats were randomlydivided into 2 groups. In the EGF group, the left peronealnerve was transected, then an 1mm epineural window wascreated on the neighbouring-tibial nerve. The distal end of peroneal nerve was sutured to the windowed tibial nerveby means of end-to-side attachment. In the control group,nerve TLN was performed as In the EGF group. Injectionof EGF/normal saline (20 μg/μL) and normal saline (10 μL) was done at the distal site of peroneal nerve transected in the EGF group and control group for two weeks respectively. Histological, morphological and electrophysiological examinations were performed in 4 and 8 weeks after the operation. Results The cross area of the regenerated myelinated nerve fibres, axon numbers, motor nerve conduction velocity were significantly better in the EGF group than in the control