Functional recovery of visual pathway after vascularized peripheral nerve grafting

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24592714
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Plastic surgery
• Research Institution: International University of Health and Welfare (2014-2015); Okayama University (2012-2013)
• Principal Investigator: Kosaka Jun 国際医療福祉大学, 保健医療学部, 教授 (40243216)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KIMATA Yoshihiro 岡山大学, 大学院医歯薬学総合研究科, 教授 (50392345) ; WAKABAYASHI Taketoshi 関西医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (90302421)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 血管柄付き移植 / マイクロサージェリー / 網膜神経節細胞 / 視神経 / 視覚中枢

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We studied whether the use of vascularized peripheral nerve graft on the optic nerve stump enhances axonal regrowth of retinal ganglion cells compared with classical non-vascularized grafts. The rat median nerve was microsurgically sutured with its supplying artery and vein to the optic nerve stump. The number of retinal ganglion cells with regrowing axons was evaluated and counted by retrograde labeling into the grafted nerve. Myelination of the regrowing axon fibers was examined by transmitted electron microscopy. The number of retinal ganglion cells with regrowing axons in the vascularized graft was significantly higher than in the classical non-vascularized graft. The ratio of myelinated axon fibers was also increased in vascularized graft. Thus, peripheral nerve grafting with their supplying arteries and veins to the injured nerve axon represents a promising strategy to accelerate axonal regeneration.

Free Research Field

視覚科学