Objective To compare the effects of olfactory ensheathing cell (OEC)-containing and pre-degenerated peripheral nerve (PN) transplantation on the axonal regeneration of axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in adult rats. Methods Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 6 rats in each group. A segment of the normal (group A) or 10 mu;l-OEC-injected (group B) autogenetic sciatic nerve was sutured onto the ocular stump of the left transected optic nerve (ON). In another 2 groups, the removed sciatic nerve was cultured (group C) or co-cultured with OEC (group D) in vitro for 5 days before transplantation. All animals were executed 4 weeks after transplantation, and the number of Fluoro-goldlabeled RGC in each group was counted. Results The averages of regenerating RGC in group B (1481 plusmn;268), C (1235 plusmn;266) and D (1464 plusmn;285) were significantly higher than that in group A (799 plusmn;109; P=0.0002, 0.0010 and 0.0003, respectively). No significant difference was found among group B, C and D (P=0.3644, 0.9167 and 0.4344). Conclusion OEC can promote the axonal regeneration of axotomized RGC in fresh PN graft, which doesn prime;t differ much from the effect of the pre-degenerated PN graft. No additive effect of OEC and the pre-degenerated PN graft can be detected. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2007, 23: 130-132)

Citation： WU Mingmei,LUO Na,YANG Hao,et al. Comparison of the effects of olfactory ensheathing cell-containing and pre-degenerated peripheral nerve transplantation on axonal regeneration of axotomized retinal ganglion cells in adult rats. Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases, 2007, 23(2): 130-132. doi: Copy