Functional, Histopathological and Immunohistichemical Assessments of Cyclosporine A on Sciatic Nerve Regeneration Using Allografts: A Rat Sciatic Nerve Model

Objectives: to study the functional, histopathological and immunohistochemical effect of cyclosporine a on sciatic nerve regeneration using allografts in a rat sciatic nerve model. methods: thirty male white wistar rats were divided into three experimental groups (n=10), randomly: normal control group (nc), allograft group (allo), csa treated group (allo/ csa). in nc group left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and after homeostasis muscle was sutured. in the allo group the left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and transected proximal to the tibioperoneal bifurcation where a 10 mm segment was excised. the same procedure was performed in the allo/ csa group and the animals were treated with interaperitoneal administration of cyclosporine a. the harvested nerves of the rats of allo group were served as allograft for allo/ csa group and vice versa. the nc and allo groups received 300 μl sterile olive oil interaperitoneally once a day for one week and the allo/ csa group received 300 μl csa (1mg/kg/day) interaperitoneally once a day for one week. results: behavioral, functional, biomechanical and gastrocnemius muscle mass showed earlier regeneration of axons in allo/ csa than in allo group (p=0.001). histomorphometic and immunohistochemical studies also showed earlier regeneration of axons in allo/ csa than in allo group (p=0.034). conclusion: administration of csa could accelerate functional recovery after nerve allografting in sciatic nerve. it may have clinical implications for the surgical management of patients after nerve transection in emergency conditions.