OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) to promoting the sensitive and motor fibres regeneration.

METHODSThirty two Sprague-Dawley rats with 10 mm gap of sciatic nerve were operated and bridged with the new double channel nerve conduit in rhomboid shape. They were randomly divided into two groups, with each in twelve animals. In the first group, 200 micro1 of chitin for medical use was injected into the conduit, and in the second group the two branches of the conduit contained 100 microl of the chitin and 5 microl NGF or CNTF. At twelve and sixteen weeks after the operation, we evaluated the sensitive and motor fibres of regenerative nerve with Holmes, Acetylcholinesterase and Carbonic anhydrase staining.

RESULTSAfter the twelve and sixteen weeks of the operation, there were not significant differences of the regenerative nerve fibres between two channels in the first groups. But in the second group, the number of the motor fibres of the regenerative nerve of CNTF branch channel was much more and distributed better than the others, while the number and density of sensitive fibres was inferior to NGF. The latency of compound muscle active potential and cortical somatosensory evoked potential of the nerve in the CNTF branch was shorter than the one in the NGF branch, but its amplitude was higher.

CONCLUSIONSThe CNTF could significantly promote the regeneration of motor fibres and the NGF could promote better for the regeneration of sensitive fibres.