Investigating the Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Peripheral Nerve Repair with Quantitative Methods

Objective: The aim was to research the possible effects of bone marrow stromal cells on the effective method for peripheral nerve injuries of end-in-end repair for sciatic nerves using quantitative histologic methods. Methods: Five adult male New Zealand rabbits had both sciatic nerves cut and then the end-in-end repair technique performed. Then while nothing was administered to the left side, the right side had autologous mesenchymal stem cell injection from previously cultured material administered. Four weeks later the repair area was removed, and sections were stained with S100 and CD31 antibodies. Stained sections were investigated for Schwann cells and vessels. Evaluations of the left and right sides were made by comparing their Schwann cell density and vessel density determined by estimating their volume fractions, separately. Results: The repair areas on both sides showed no significant differences for the degree of immunoreactivity for S100 and CD31 (p=0.003). But the volume fractions of Schwann cells and vessels within the repair areas were found to be increased for the cell-treated nerves, but statistically there was no difference for vessels (p=0.073). Conclusion: These results support the findings already reported in the literature, that increased Schwann cell density will probably promote regeneration of the peripheral nerve.