BACKGROUND:Slow growth of peripheral nerve, muscle denervation atrophy and fossilization of motor end plate fol owing sciatic nerve injury cause irreversible limb function disorders. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells have been widely used in multi-disciplinary research, but studies concerning umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells delaying denervated muscle atrophy in rats fol owing peripheral nerve injury are rarely reported.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the value of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells transplantation to delay denervated muscle atrophy of rats after sciatic nerve injury.
METHODS:Umbilical cord blood was col ected from healthy parturient woman after ful-term delivery. In the experimental group, the rat’s Sunderland IV degree sciatic nerve injury model was established by 5 mm denervation, epineurial repair, and 5 mm smal gap transplantation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. In the control group, after modeling, the same volume of normal saline was injected into the smal gap. The main outcome measures included the sciatic nerve function index, the wet weight of triceps surae,sciatic nerve latency, action potential conduction velocity and amplitude,and skeletal muscle fiber cross section area maintenance rate.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 4, 8 and 12 weeks of modeling, the sciatic nerve function index values, the wet weight of triceps surae and skeletal muscle fiber cross section area maintenance rates in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). After 12 weeks of modeling, electromyography results showed sciatic nerve latency was significantly lower, but action potential conduction velocity and amplitude were dramatical y higher in the experimental group than the control group (P<0.05, P<0.001). Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells transplantation in denervated muscle atrophy rats after sciatic nerve promotes nerve growth, delays denervated muscle atrophy, maintains the denervatied neuromusle’s morphology and function.