Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor injection on peripheral nerve injury at the watershed zone in a rat model

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09612
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Toho University
• Principal Investigator: Ochi Kensuke 東邦大学, 医学部, 研究員 (70445203)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 末梢神経 / 神経損傷 / 神経虚血 / 神経内血流 / bFGF

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Nerve blood flow plays a crucial role in the recovery of traumatic nerve injury, and the longitudinal distribution of nerve blood flow along the length of peripheral nerves was not uniform. Well defined watershed areas of nerve blood flow were observed at lower-thigh level of rat sciatic and tibial nerves. In bFGF group, mechanical sensation thresholds of von Frey test were significantly elevated compared to PBS and Clip groups at all time-points after crush injury. bFGF group showed a significantly faster recovery of motor nerve conduction velocity in sciatic-tibial nerves than those in PBS and Clip groups, although none of rats in bFGF, PBS and Clip groups showed a full recovery of nerve conductions. bFGF therapy is a potent candidate for treatment of traumatic nerve injury at the watershed zone of nerve blood flow along the proximal-distal extent of nerve, with a potential of enhanced nerve regeneration via angiogenic and neurotrophic factors.

Free Research Field

末梢神経障害

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

「神経内分水嶺内部への血管新生因子注入は、損傷神経の再生を促進させる」ことが初めて実証されたことは学術的に極めて意義深い。またこの効果は神経内への血管新生因子注入のみならず、神経外への血管新生因子注入でも獲得されることが示唆されたことは本法を臨床応用する上で大きな進捗であった。ヒトの各種難治性末梢神経障害に対する有効な新規治療法開発の目処がついたことから、その社会的意義も極めて大きいと考えている。