Objective To explore the facilitative effects of different allogenic cells injected into the denervated muscles on the nerve regeneration, the protection of the myoceptor degeneration, and the promotion for rehabilitation of the muscular function. Methods Schwann cells, myoblast cells, and renal endothelial cells were prepared from 400 SD rats aged 7 days and weighing 20.0±2.3 g. Thirty-six adult female SD rats weighing 120-150 g were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=9). Under the asepsis condition, the left ischiadic nerves of all the SD rats were cut off, and the primary suture of the epineurium was performed. After operation, the different corresponding cells were injected into the triceps muscles of the rat calf in each group once per week for 4 times in all. One ml of Schwann cells (1×106/ml) was injected into the rats in Group A; 1 ml of the mixed cells of Schwann cells and myoblast cells (1×106/ml) was injected into the rats in Group B; 1 ml of the extract from the mixed cells of Schwann cells, myoblast cells, and renal endothelial cells (1×106/ml) was injected into the rats in Group C; 1 ml of the culture medium without any serum was injected into the rats in Group D as a control. After operation, observation was made for the general condition of the rats; 3 months after operation, enzymohistochemistry and the CJun expression were performedin the ventricornual motor neuron. At the proximal and the distal ends of the nerve suture, the density of neurilemma cells in the unit area and the area size of the regenerated nerve fibers were observed and measured. Results The affected limbs of the rats in Groups A, B and C improved 13 months after operation. The ulcers and swelling at the ankles gradually relieved and the rats could move normally 3 months after operation. However, the affected limbsof the rats in Group D still had ulcers and swelling, with an obvious contracture of the toes and a difficult movement. Three months after operation, the number of the target muscle myoceptor, the number of the Actin positive cells, the activity of the various enzymes in the denervated muscles, and the histological changes of the regenerated nerves were better in Group C than in Groups A and B (P＜0.01); and they were all better in Groups A, B and C than in Group D（Plt;0.01）. Conclusion Schwann cells, the mixture of Schwann cells and myoblast cells, and the extract from the mixture of Schwann cells, myoblast cells and renal endothelial cells can all promote neurotization and rehabilitation of the muscular function, and protect against the myoceptor degeneration. However, the effect of the extract is superior to that of Schwann cells or the mixed cells.
Objective To study the construction feasibility of a biodegradable artificial esophagus by the squamous epithelial cells and the myoblast cells seeded on the small intestinal submucosa(SIS) and to investigate the growth patternand angiogenesis of the co-cultured human embryonic squamous epithelial cells and the skeletal myoblasts in vivo. Methods The squamous epithelial cells and the myoblast cells were obtained from the 20-week aborted fetus. Both of their cellswere marked by 5-BrdU in vitro.The isolated cells were then seeded on the SIS and co-cultured in vitro for 24 hours, and then the compound of the cells and the SIS was transplanted into the subcutaneous tissue of the athymismus mice. The observation on the morphology and the cytokeratin AE3 and α-actin specified immunohistochemistry of the squamous epithelial cells and the myoblastcells was performed at each of the following time points: 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks after transplantation. Results The morphological observation indicated that the cultured cells could penetrate into the small intestinal submucosa and form several-layered cell structures, and that the compound of the cells and the SIS could have angiogenesis within 2-3 weeks. The 5-BrdU specified immunohistochemical observation suggested that the cells growing in the small intestinal submucosa scaffold might be the cells transplanted.The cytokeratin AE3 specified and α-actin specified immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that the transplanted cells could differentiate in vivo. Conclusion It is possible to fabricate the framework of a biodegradable artificial esophagus with the epithelial cells and the myoblast cells seeded on the small intestinal submucosa.
Objective To study the effect of allogenic different cells injected into denervated muscles on nerve regeneration. Methods Thirty-six adult female SD rats, weighed 120-150 g, were divided into four groups randomly (n=9, each group). Left sciatic nerves were cut down on germfree conditions and given primary suture of epineurium. Different cells were injected into the muscles of calf at once after operation every seven days and in all four times (group A: 1 ml Schwann cells at concentration of 1×106/ml; group B: 1 ml mixed cells of Schwann cells and myoblast cells at concentration of 1×106/ml; group C: 1 ml extract from the culture medium of kidney endothelial cells; and group D: 1 ml culture medium without FCS as control ). After 3 months, the specimen was observed on macrobody and histology, and the densities of neurilemma cell and myoceptor were counted. Results The means of proximate neurilemma cells were 0.187 7±0.054 2 in group A, 0.155 1±0.032 1 in group B, 0.072 4±0.023 7 in group C, and 0.187 7±0.054 2 in group D. The densities of myoceptor were 6.000±0.866 in group A，9.000±2.291 in group B,12.780±1.394 in group C, 3.110±0.782 in group D. Conclusion Schwann cells, mixed cells of Schwann cells with myoblast cells, and the extract from kidney endothelial cells canall accelerate the nerve regeneration. And the effect of extract from the kidney endothelial cell is superior to that of Schwann cell and mixed cell.